Chapter 1: The Saboteurs Explained

In this series, titled the Saga of the Saboteurs, I aim to delve into various mental barriers that impede personal growth. If you missed Part 1, where I introduced the Judge, you can catch up on that here.

Reflect on your own judgments for a moment. How critical are you of yourself and others?

As I embark on this journey, I want to clarify why I’ve named this series the Saga of the Saboteurs. My love for alliteration plays a part, but more significantly, it reflects the concept of mental adversaries we all face.

The foundation of this series is built upon Positive Intelligence, a coaching methodology developed by Shirzad Chamine. This framework is designed to help individuals unlock their potential by amplifying their strengths while diminishing the negative traits that hinder their progress. It’s widely recognized that our minds can serve as either our greatest ally or our fiercest foe. This duality is why many of us struggle to turn good intentions into action.

Positive Intelligence focuses on recalibrating our relationship with our thoughts, ensuring that our minds support rather than sabotage us. Chamine identifies the self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that block our progress as Saboteurs. By recognizing and lessening the impact of these internal voices, we can instead elevate the voice of our inner wisdom, referred to as the Sage.

As I previously mentioned, coaching is a highly personalized experience; thus, I may not employ this tool with every client or use it in its entirety. Nonetheless, I find it a compelling concept, which is why I’m eager to share it with you. This series will explore individual Saboteurs in depth, starting with the Judge, the primary Saboteur that influences our thoughts and actions.

Chapter 2: Meet the Avoider

Today, we dive into the characteristics of the Avoider. As implied by its name, this Saboteur excels at evading situations it perceives as unpleasant or challenging. I must confess, I resonate deeply with this one.

If you find yourself postponing difficult conversations or tasks, hoping they resolve themselves, or if you struggle to say “no” and agree to things just to maintain harmony, you might be wrestling with the Avoider. This Saboteur thrives on keeping the peace, often at the expense of your own needs and feelings.

When faced with conflict, the Avoider may encourage you to suppress your true thoughts, fearing that expressing them could alienate others. If any of this resonates with you, it’s likely that the Avoider has a strong presence in your life.

This internal voice often insists that prioritizing others' feelings makes you a good person. However, what it fails to acknowledge is the burden of unexpressed emotions and the simmering anxiety that can result from avoidance. While you maintain a calm exterior, beneath the surface lies a build-up of suppressed feelings that can eventually overwhelm you.

The Avoider hampers personal development by preventing us from learning to navigate conflict constructively. This avoidance not only stifles growth but also hinders the formation of genuine relationships, as others may sense your reluctance to share your authentic self.

We must remember that by quieting our responses to negativity, we risk muting our appreciation for the positive aspects of life. The Avoider, in its quest to shield us, may inadvertently deprive us of joy.

The first video, "The Saboteur - Part 2," further explores these concepts, illustrating how the Avoider operates within us.

In the second video, "The Saboteur All Civilian Vehicles Part Two," we gain insights into different manifestations of these internal Saboteurs.

Now is the time to reflect: Are we still allowing the Avoider to dominate our responses, or is it time to encourage it to take a step back?