Know your inner saboteurs: Shirzad Chamine at TEDxStanford

Shirzad Chamine shows Stanford students how his research on positive intelligence can help them achieve their full potential for professional success and personal fulfillment.
Professor Shirzad Chamine is author of the New York Times bestseller Positive Intelligence. His work exposes 10 well-disguised mental saboteurs and shares how to defeat them. According to Chamine, "positive intelligence" measures the percentage of time our mind serves us as opposed to sabotaging us. While IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence) contribute to our maximum potential, it is PQ that determines how much of that potential we actually achieve. Chamine is chairman emeritus of CTI, the largest coachtraining organization in the world. Chamine has coached hundreds of CEOs and their executive teams. Before running CTI, he was the CEO of an enterprise software company. His background includes PhD studies in neuroscience in addition to a BA in psychology, an MS in electrical engineering and an MBA from Stanford.

[@ShirzadPQ]

Jo I am glad you are teaching others some of these concepts. I think it is amazing that in our formal education of our kids we teach them everything but the most important thing, which is to develop mastery over their own mental and emotional experience (Positive Intelligence training). Imagine the kind of world we would create if all our children were raised with that kind of training. That is my long-term vision.

[@caroledouillot8858]

how can I be of assistance in your vision? I have the same one...such a big endeavour!

[@dp503]

@Herschel Giannakopoulo Hahaha, that's asking for trouble!! Very smart but don't do that if you want to do well in this world!

[@wolflover8724]

I love that speech dr Shirzad

[@nickpayne1652]

Unlimited potential 💎

[@vanpesq]

You are love Shizard.

[@m.juliannewilson1777]

"Daddy, because I am ME"! What an incredibly father and man. One if the best talks I've seen. Well done!

[@jasonneiman3974]

Surprised this hasn't gone viral in these 10 years. A video very worthwhile of your time.

[@SBecktacular]

his kids are so lucky to have him for a father

[@nontokozombatha9182]

Right! ❤️

[@tedsisliew287]

You are special too. We are all unique .

[@albertopeisach6646]

Shirzad has spent years developing a way for oneself to identify the different "voices" in our head that influence to make decisions or work in certain ways. When we react disproportionately to an event, we are reacting to our past programing. Shirzad has put into plain english lots of psychology. I find it very very useful. Take this seriously

[@NoseJackMaggot]

The wounded child inside of me broke down when I heard “it’s because I’m me” so beautiful and may your children be forever loved

[@jazzykayonbroadway]

Me too

[@jamiemoffett7951]

"It's because I am me".... *tear*

[@nontokozombatha9182]

Literally teared up😩❤️ what an amazing talk! 🙌

[@IngemoH]

Taking the education right now. It is sooo good! I warmly recommend it!

[@sadil837]

Oh God. I'm tearing up so bad. "It's because ... I am me"

[@indrajitbhattacharya9107]

I don’t know whether or how much it will change my life, but I'm saving this video and whenever i lost sight on my true self I'll watch this again and again. Thank you TEDs for bringing in such graet talks. You are really doing a great act of service. ❤️

[@azeembhatti4305]

I'm surprised so few people have listened to him. Totally amazing words. My heart stopped when his son told him, you love me because, "I'm so mean." I need to find my "Sage", the "Magnificent" me.

[@ShirzadPQ]

Michael, I actually tell people that Positive Intelligence is not about "changing" them, but about remembering and reclaiming the magnificent person they were born to be. I wouldn't characterize this work as "difficult" as that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I describe it as "uncommon" as most people don't know the mind science and the tools they need. With the proper tools and methods, it is actually fun and exciting.

[@BetaBuxDelux]

This is going into my “watch everyday” play list.

[@UnFessoQualunque]

do you really have this list? which other Videos are in there? how many time do you put every day in this playlist? 1hour? thank you very much for sharing

[@RQPeterson]

I send this TEDx talk to all my coaching clients - it is a message that all humans need to hear, especially these days in a global climate of fear and anger and hate and division.

[@ShirzadPQ]

Thanks Linda. I feel lucky to be able to do this work.

[@lindafurness7533]

Shirzad, so glad you are you, and doing this work in the world!

[@sydneym85]

I met you years ago at a limelife conference. I asked you about my migraines and how to not sabotage myself and find joy and you said to find the gift within it . I sobbed during your talk . It was a very real wake up call that I really needed and appreciated

[@wrenlittle4523]

This had me in tears, this is what I want to give to others.

[@SaleemRanaAuthor]

Incredible wisdom packed into 20 minutes. I feel like I've had an out-of-body life review!

[@deepasoman553]

When my friend, Anita Sachdev told me about Shirzad, I was fascinated. The idea of naming the 9 saboteurs to weaken them, and the 5 sage powers to claim ones True Self is such a powerful and practical lifeskill. I have ordered your book and will try to join your training. Will like to incorporate this in my mentoring and coaching. Thank you for a wonderful TED talk and hope more people will access your ideas and wisdom.

[@cartergomez5390]

I am also looking him up on other KZbin videos.

[@jonathanm4508]

16:30 - Developing your sage muscles. One technique: focus on one particular physical sensation in the body for ten second. Do this several times each hour. This is very similar to the way meditation teachers counsel you to check into the practice throughout the day. Punctuate your day with moments of mindfulness. This is a research backed finding. Sage muscles versus saboteur muscles - the ration is PQ quotient. "Practice" to strengthen sage muscles.

[@smartlindsey]

Shirzad's talk should be required in every psychology and business course so people learn to rekindle their empathy and humanity, which seems to be lacking in so many today.

[@LarryJacobson]

One of the most important eye-opening TED talks you will ever hear. Well done Shirzad!

[@pissuakki]

This came on by accident- so grateful, what a great talk ❤️ I am just learning how much I’ve been conditioned to not feel enough and to feel I’m the “bad one”

[@corinnametzler7213]

wow, thank you!! The formula of my life purpose/stake is becoming clearer every day. PQ at its' clearest and brought across with such empathy honesty and clarity! thank you!!!!! coco

[@JoMurphy]

I read Chamine's work with enthusiasm and include something in every class I teach! Truly liberational. Thank you, Jo

[@womenintransformation8087]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I love your passion, the beautiful simplicity of the talk and the profound wisdoms. I am practicing to build my Sage!

[@thehumaninfusionproject6859]

Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do. This is one of my favorite Tedx talks ever.

[@antonhalk8792]

So glad I stumbled upon this video, I recognize I have been sabotaging myself, but didn't know how to dig deeper or how to label this. Thank you!

[@cocoinla]

That answer had me in tears! Thank you for the wonderful message.

[@ciclotan]

A very worthwhile 20 minutes. Thank you for this important work and for making the assessment available to the public.

[@nerdfanatic]

Wow! I have watched SO MANY TED talks over the years, and I must say this is one of my favorites. What a beautiful message. I can't wait to share it with others. Thank you! This was life changing

[@motosana1]

My Angels definitely sent me here today!

[@bezybez]

Dear Mr Shirzad, I loved your speech. Independent of your research I came to a similar conclusion after doing a 10 day Vipassana Meditation in Australia. I called Saboteurs "Donkeys" inspired from the movie Shrek! I called my sage, Horse. Donkeys and my horse move in the opposite directions. I identified a few of your saboteurs including the judge.

[@maria-gorettimillard6253]

TY! For the gifts of yr wisdom! Life changing! 😢 Freedom, Liberation, & Flying. Blessings! We are all just walking each other HOME. 😁

[@writer5150]

Thank you, Shirzad. I watched this video with tears in my eyes, but as you s-one, I could feel myself letting go of some of the pain I’ve allowed my saboteurs inflict. Truly thank you for discovering this video.

[@aniajeffries762]

beautiful video on so many fronts. I hope it touches anyone who listens to this as there is a listen here for everyone here. thank you so much.

[@haileyquinn2532]

Everyone go get his book Positive Intelligence, it changed my life :)

[@escuchareescuchar2473]

bewitharchie

[@ppeall]

positive intelligence

[@katkholliday1281]

well...... alrighty* thren

[@liammorningstar4970]

Thanks Hailey didn't know there was a book about this...am gonna read it right away

[@TerenceMa1989]

this is one of the amazing ted talks out there.

[@arshaady1615]

This is one of the most extraordinary and helpful Ted Talks I've watched to date.

[@liammorningstar4970]

This is one of the most transformative talks I hv ever listened to...I wish Shirzad Chamine wrote a book abt this

[@123emmaandy]

He did

[@saiprasad8311]

Most valuable Ted talk for me. This short capsule has everything to learn. The false me blocking the real me is the story of myself and many others that I see. When Sri Ramana Maharshi says ponder who am I, that question may not be a dull renouncing pursuit when we see from the wisdom of this talk. Thank you.

[@meekking3999]

Oh my God. I keep telling my friends and family WE ARE PERFECT and so is everyone bc that is the Truth but we keep choosing to live a lie that we are not bc of the conditions around us that perpetuate imperfection. Oh God, I love this concept of The Judge. It makes me tears eyed bc this is so important and a huge subject in my life lately. I love this.

[@lwgg742]

Beautiful. I cried at the end. It is such a good question.

[@nontokozombatha9182]

Absolutely amazing! 🙌Found this touching. Helped me get through what I'm going through now. Thanks for the upload. With love from 🇿🇦🙌❤️💃

[@ShirzadPQ]

Corinna, I am glad you are connecting the dots for yourself. Indeed the answers to our most important questions, such as our purpose in life, reside in the "PQ Brain" region not the "Survivor Brain" region. As you learn to activate the PQ region more, you gain deeper access to your own wisdom showing the way.

[@haya4895]

thank you so much for this video! it touches a chord in myself. one thing I didnot understand is how does shifting our attention to physical sensation builds our sage muscles?

[@deepakchander3150]

I see it's been two years since this comment. I couldn't leave without answering. By focussing on the physical sensation we weaken the saboteur region of the brain and activate the PQ brain where the sage lives. There are actually 3 muscles we build, Self Command, Saboteur interceptor and Sage.

[@deepakchander3150]

I have personal been benefitted through the work of Shirzad and worked with quite a few people on implementing it in their own lives. He is an absolute legend and an inspiration. His lives work has changed so many more people. And this TED talk is absolutely one of the best I have seen. I watched it for the first time before two years and I kerp coming back to it.

[@Robutnikon]

Yep. Just love you SO MUCH, Shirzad! Epic human. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and vision 💗💗

[@gailremp3628]

This is so profound and so ironic. I was born in Sarasota Florida. I really wanted to go to Stanford to study music and most of all to march in the band. Their halftime shows were always on TV. And I loved music. But of course, I didn't. So now I'm 68, I find this KZbin Ted talk and this is profoundly right on the money. I was awesome however… So thank you sir I feel that maybe I did attend Stanford after all. Peace and blessings. GEICO

[@gailremp3628]

GEICO?. I still hate auto correct. Even when you read it it's still change it. I don't know what I was going to say instead of GEICO. Perhaps it was have a good day? That would make more sense

[@mirage_sr]

I needed this today of all days.....one of the best TEDTalks ever. Thank you

[@nascentnaomie]

I’ve learnt to disregard saboteur characters I created and be genuine to myself. It took me a while and a few reality checks but I’m glad for progress

[@MrOrenim]

Excelent contet!! Every one in the World must have access to this!!

[@Vick5194]

I loving this video. This gives me a better understanding of how to raise my daughter

[@sergeel-mir1795]

what an amazing video.... happy that my coach shared this video with me :)

[@heatherwyman7376]

Usually TED Talks don’t make me tear up but damn that last line got to me.

[@humanyoda]

His recommendation of a technique to grow one's inner sage is in line with the essence of mindful meditation. They probably are based on or related to a common element.

[@trishankuuknahsirt1872]

when he said focus your attention on your body for ten minutes. Vipassana came to my mind.

[@lindaberube4833]

I love you because you are YOU!

[@EdGo2]

Congrats to transform your complex study in a understandable video and book.

[@rosaroja4208]

I loved all of it! Thank you for sharing these words of wisdom.

[@MargaretRoseworld]

This was incredible. Just bought his book and signing up for his programme.

[@MARIAM_M_AYOUB]

Just did the very same! How was the program for you, if you don’t mind sharing?

[@Kyle-rf5mb]

@@MARIAM_M_AYOUB Did either of you do the programme? Only recently come across this and just reading the book and want to hear how others have got on with the programme.

[@cr1687]

@@Kyle-rf5mb Did you get to do it? I am currently in it, going through week 4 and it has changed my life. I've healed my inner child, made peace with my parents. I've uncover who I am, feeling complete, back to self, free. Words do not do justice to the transformation. I read someone said it is emptying your mind- It is not emptying the mind, and is more then mindful meditation. It is focusing on your senses, becoming aware of what sabotages you and commanding your mind, while keeping your true self and developing sage qualities as described on his talk. You get to reframe important events in your life and see the gift in them. More to come...

[@lenashore9770]

Just finished the program this week. The program is based on CBT (a cognitive behavioral therapy) but repackaged. The basic concepts were a good way for me to understand the information. However, there is some heavy marketing language and repetition that turned me off. If you can ignore that you can get a lot from the program. Additionally, the 6 week program is based on “installing the software” (as they put it) so you will want to continue the work after the course. You won’t be good at it at the end of the 6 weeks. At the end, you will be offered to continue with the Grow program for $35 a month. This would be an example of what turned me off. I don’t mind the offer of the Grow program, but it wasn’t mentioned until the end. At the beginning of the program I got the idea I’d be further along mastering the skills by the end of the six weeks. No one tells you this until the end. I have seen some complaints about “‘finding the gift” in bad situations. I didn’t have a problem with this. But, if you suffered trauma or a violent act, it might be triggering to hear someone telling you it is a gift. Less repetition of information (8 chapters could have been 4) and more transparency on what to expect through the program and after would have improved the program.

[@JDforeveralone]

@@lenashore9770 thank you for your detailed report! I watched his podcast with - forgot what’s his name - and it got me as well a bit when he said to see the gift or turn it into opportunity in a bad situation. But in the podcast he said that some things will need to be looked at through faith and destiny…. That made more sense to me.

[@teukiemeow]

I’m crying on this. I miss my old self.

[@VicToria-sd1dn]

I love you Shirzad Chamine because you are you.

[@alliarsenic]

Best ted talk I've ever seen!

[@keatongroom]

Wow. This is truly both perspective shifting, and a great reminder. I find it interesting, though, how spiritual and religious teachings from Monks and the bible are things that we keep "learning" through research and science, yet they were always there, we're just now confirming it. For example, meditation, and various teachings around positive thinking, forgiveness (forgiving oneself), etc. Interesting to witness the merge between science and faith.

[@dellifootball]

One of the best Ted talks I’ve listened to

[@ShirzadPQ]

Brad I go into a lot more depth in my book regarding the origin of the Saboteurs. Which Saboteur you develop is an interplay between your genetic predispositions and your specific childhood experiences including your family. Some mimic the parental Saboteur. For example, you might develop a Stickler Saboteur to appeal to a perfectionist parent. The opposite might be true too. The child of someone with Controller Saboteur might develop the complementary Pleaser Saboteur to create peace.

[@gailremp3628]

Shirzad Chamine whoa...thank you.

[@ameerh1]

Shirzad Chamine thank you for your work, great research! I got to learn about u while working on my own personal development and researching more and more in the process of finding out my passion in life and how to maximize my potential. I also found out about the 101 happiness course - great tip on your website!

[@RamKumar-yi6wn]

16:45 onwards he's speaking of mindfulness meditation or attention training. These saboteurs he speaks of are negative thoughts. The sage muscle is the ability to keep off negative thoughts that can be developed through meditation. That's what you basically do in meditation , keep away thoughts and try to maintain your mind as a blank.

[@STAR-LIGHT.1111]

Image how much love the son gets from his beautyful father❤👌🏻

[@embeeNIC]

19:18 I wasn’t ready for that 🥲 Beautiful Ted Talk ❤ Thank you

[@nontokozombatha9182]

My new hero! 🙌❤️

[@adamnewman1740]

Thank you Sir, I needed to hear this today. I love me because I am me!

[@amandavee0x]

Shine texts brought me here! Thankful to have stumbled upon this video at this current stage of life ✨❤️

[@binoy1]

What a beautiful session Shirzad! Loved it.

[@bezybez]

Just recently during a meditation session at home, I discovered that the judge was in fact my older (by 3 years) brother! While I was little he continuously criticised my every initiatives. I believe my “Judge” saboteur is him. I think a lot of our “donkeys” or saboteurs characters are phantom family members! What are your thoughts on that?

[@ayaahmed9537]

Excellent... been looking for this talk for a long ttime thank you.

[@rachelhobdell5550]

Wow ! Amazing,So powerful and moving

[@shipralala3154]

Very well presented. You could go on increasing the number of saboteurs !!

[@josephpires911]

Most beautiful one I've ever experienced salute to this sir

[@Bibek33349]

Life changing speech

[@mickymouse2445]

Yees!!

[@kasherist]

Life makes impact on who you are

[@ryanmakhani]

Wow! This is so powerful!

[@craigkeller]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[@lisavonfrank9531]

This was excellent! Thank you for sharing.....

[@irinaborda]

Wow, deeply touched

[@bezybez]

I have also identified a couple of odd donkeys, I called one of them a crazy clairvoyant. It constantly predicts disasters and I constantly use my horse to find a solution to those imaginary disasters! Another odd one is the “gambler”. It constantly gambles with simple events, for example it tells me that if I can pass the crossing before the lights get red, I will double my sales today!

[@diane4488]

Loved it! Thank you so much! 💕

[@CalumnMcAulay]

this is a wonderful talk - hearing the thoughts of the ceo's was quite upsetting and makes me want to heIp

[@chelseag6636]

I loved watching this one!

[@carlettagoodrichmann1513]

Stories of life situations perpetuates Haters humor can change your outlook Breathe and think on how to complete one task at a time. A sense of completion brings about a positive experience

[@samymulu7110]

Thank you sir ! your message is well received.

[@TatianeGarciaCoach]

Incredible!!!!

[@morvenfairley8406]

Thank you.

[@miguelgarcia-rp3er]

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU! 😘

[@danjjkn]

Fantastic! Phenomenal! Impressive!

[@vanhoudtshoorn]

AWESOME.THANK YOU

[@AliMahlodji]

wonderful and on point, thank you!

[@georgesmith3022]

i think all self help books since the 70s talk about the idea of inner voice that sabotages you. shirzad has taken it a step further explaining it more analytically, but it is not something new. anyway it is a good presentation, watch it!

[@mssaayman3853]

Thank you!

[@yscyxz]

Hi Mr Chamine, thank you for great talk. I can relate to a lot of the things you said in your talk. I grew up with a terrible childhood but I'm glad I managed to realize the deeply seated issues I had as a result of my childhood at an age of 27 and quickly dealt with them. Your grid of saboteurs remind me a lot of the Enneagrams personality test. Have you ever came across that before? It helped me a lot in my self-discovery journey.

[@johnkamau3442]

Excellent talk.....

[@thebootjournal6037]

Great talk!

[@cindyhalpern3187]

Very good talk! Thank you!