Is Your Brain Secretly Sabotaging You, Sinead?
You know that voice.
The one that whispers, “You’re not ready.”
The one that shouts, “That was stupid.”
The one that turns a small wobble into a full-blown self-doubt spiral.
That voice or feeling isn’t truth.
It’s your saboteurs, and they’ve been running the show for far too long.
So this week – I want to give you top strategies to help you switch your brain from self sabotage, to support!
Coaching Room Insight: From Burnout to CEO-in-Waiting
When I first met Gina (not her real name), she was a CTO at breaking point.
- Burnt out.
- Depleted of confidence.
- Doubting her every decision.
I could see she was brilliant, but she was completely unable to see it.
She was in the grip of her saboteurs…especially her inner Judge.
It was relentless!
She couldn’t speak up in meetings without second-guessing herself. She felt like a fraud in rooms she had every right to be in.
But here’s what changed everything…
She realised that voice wasn’t her!
It was a pattern, and one she could disrupt.
We worked together to quieten the Judge, rebuild her confidence, and give her back control of her own mind.
Now?
She’s full of energy, deeply focused, and crystal clear about where she’s heading…CEO (yay! You know that’s the kind of win I love)
She walks into senior meetings with authority and ease.
And when the Judge pipes up?
She hears it, names it, and moves on.
She told me recently:
“The salary increase is great. But how I feel about myself now? That’s what’s changed my life.”
Golden Tip: Celebrate the Catch
The Judge and your other saboteurs (Perfectionist, People Pleaser, Controller, Hyper-Achiever amongst them) thrive in the background.
They work best when you don’t even realise they’re running the show.
Want to weaken their grip?
Here’s what works:
Catch the voice. Tune in. Name it. “That’s my Judge. Not the truth.”
Celebrate the catch. This is crucial. Every time you notice the saboteur, you interrupt the pattern. You shift your energy. You build stronger, more empowering neural pathways. So I mean properly CELEBRATE the catch!
Ask your wiser self: “What do I want to believe instead?”
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about catching yourself earlier, and choosing differently.
Latest Research: Rewire Your Brain, Reclaim Your Power
Shirzad Chamine’s Positive Intelligence research shows that mental fitness – your ability to intercept saboteurs and shift into Sage mode – directly impacts performance, confidence, and wellbeing.
The simple act of noticing and naming saboteur thoughts builds new neural pathways.
The more you do it, the stronger your inner leader becomes.
I’ve been using Positive Intelligence with clients for almost five years as a certified coach in the methodology – and it’s one of the most powerful tools I’ve seen for lasting change.
Gina’s Words: What Really Changed
“Before the mastermind, I felt like my Judge was running my life. I was constantly questioning myself.
Now, I see it. I name it. I shut it down. I know who I am and where I’m going. It’s not just the salary rise, it’s the fact I love work again!”
— Gina, Impactful Leader Mastermind graduate
Sick of overthinking?
Procrastinating?
Shrinking at the exact moment you need to shine?
You’re not alone, and you’re not broken.
These are the patterns I see (and shift) every day inside the Leadership Reset Mastermind.
It’s where high-achieving women stop letting self-sabotage run the show, and start leading with energy, clarity, and confidence again.
I’m not opening the doors just yet, but if you know you don’t want to keep doing it the hard way…
You’ll answer a few quick questions so I can get to know you…and when the next places open, you’ll be the first to hear from me!
