At New Year we often focus on our physical health; participating in dry January, taking out a gym membership or putting Joe Wicks back on our screens every morning, cutting down or quitting on smoking / chocolate/ carbs / alcohol (I can keep going on…..). But we rarely think about focusing on our Mental Health.
Probably, unlike any other year, paying attention to our own metal health and wellbeing has become paramount. We have become more comfortable with sharing how we really feel, looking for help when we’re not coping and sharing with other’s our anxieties, fears and illnesses. Yet, whilst we might be talking about it, how many of us are really building our mental muscles to cope with it, on a daily or even weekly basis?
80% if people score below the minimum level of mental fitness required for peak performance and happiness.
When we are physically fit, we can climb steep hills or go for long bike rides without any sign of physical stress. And when we are mentally fit, we can handle life’s great challenges without the feeling of mental stress or negative emotions.
Shirzad Charmin, the renowned coach and Positive Intelligence speaker says, “mental fitness is a measure of the strength of your positive mental muscles (Sage) versus the negative (Saboteur).” His research with 500,000 participants using his Positive Intelligence (PQ) assessment and programme has resulted in higher PQ skills that have improved individual’s performance (31%), increased their sales (37%) and improved creativity (x3). In addition to performance, he found that relationships and happiness quotients also had gone up.
Recent breakthroughs in neuroscience and technology can improve your mental fitness significantly within 6 weeks of practice.
As some of you might have picked up on my social media, I’ve just completed my Positive Intelligence Coaching Programme that had me recognise my inner critics / Saboteurs and then through mindfulness practice (called PQs) begin to tap into my inner coach/ Sages.
My Controller Saboteur (a.k.a Nanny Fix It) and my Hyper-Achiever Saboteur (a.k.a The General) were my two top critics that I hadn’t realised before were harmful to not only me, but to those around me and the situations I found myself in. Whilst on the programme I found myself having a difficult conversation with a new client, who ‘regretfully didn’t want to continue with my services’; instead of beating myself up and becoming defensive, I was able to tap into my Explore Sage and get curious as to what happened and what else was influencing the decision. After the call, when I was ready to have a good weep (I’d just lost a contract after all), I instead got curious and showing myself Empathy, reminded myself what I did do well and then considered what gift or opportunity could come out of the situation. In other words, implementing some of the many techniques I’d learnt from the PQ programme. It enabled me to feel more positive, focused and more importantly to not be hijacked by my inner critics, who would have taken over my whole day.
So in 2021, if you are ready to build on your Mental Fitness to learn how to feel less stressed, anxious, self-doubting, avoiding or discontented and to become more calm, clear, focused and positive – then the PQ 6 week programme is for you. Get in touch and ask how I can support you with your mental wellbeing, building your inner coach and reducing your inner critics. And if you do nothing else, I’d really, really recommend you take the free PQ quiz.