We’ve all been there—overthinking, second-guessing, and feeling the weight of expectations pulling us in a million directions. And at the center of it all? That relentless inner dialogue that loves to remind us of all the ways we’re falling short.

I call it the Itty Bitty Shitty Committee (IBSC)—that nagging chorus of negative thoughts that feeds self-doubt, stress, and burnout. It’s the voice in your head that whispers:

“You have to work harder, or you’ll become irrelevant.”
 “Taking time for yourself is selfish—others need you first.”
 “If you don’t stay in control, everything will fall apart.”

Sound familiar?

The IBSC is fueled by inner saboteurs—mental patterns we’ve developed over a lifetime. They make us hyper-vigilant, overly critical, or paralyzed by perfectionism. And they love to keep us in a cycle of overdoing, overgiving, and overthinking.

But here’s the good news: You don’t have to listen to them. There’s another way—a way that’s rooted in wisdom, resilience, and clarity. It’s called the Sage Mind.

Meet the Sage Mind: The Antidote to Stress & Self-Doubt

Your Sage Mind is the part of you that is calm, clear, and deeply wise. It doesn’t operate from fear or urgency. Instead, it helps you:

🧠 Trust yourself instead of spiraling into self-doubt.
🧠 Respond with wisdom instead of reacting with frustration.
🧠 Take aligned action instead of running yourself into exhaustion.

Your Sage Mind is strengthened by five core powers — skills that help you shift from stress and self-judgment to clarity and confidence. Let’s explore how they work and how you can integrate them into your daily life.

The 5 Sage Strengths—Empathize, Explore, Innovate, Navigate, and Activate—come from Dr. Shirzad Chamine’s groundbreaking work in Positive Intelligence. His research shows that by strengthening these skills, we can shift from self-sabotage to self-mastery, leading with wisdom, resilience, and clarity. If you’re curious to dive deeper, I highly recommend his book Positive Intelligence!

The 5 Sage Strengths (and How to Use Them to Shut Down the IBSC)

1. Empathize – The Strength You Show Everyone Else… But Rarely Yourself

You’re a pro at supporting others, but when it comes to yourself, that compassion disappears. Your IBSC tells you that self-kindness is indulgent or weak. But here’s the truth: The way you speak to yourself shapes your reality.

💡 Try This: The next time you hear self-criticism creeping in, ask: Would I say this to a friend? If the answer is no, change the script. Replace, “I should be doing more” with “I am doing enough.”

2. Explore – The Strength of Curiosity (Not Overthinking!)

When uncertainty arises, the IBSC sends you into overdrive, analyzing every possible scenario. But curiosity is about exploring, not overthinking. Instead of seeking absolute certainty, lean into discovery.

💡 Try This: Shift from “What if I fail?” to “What could be possible?” Ask open-ended questions that invite new solutions instead of trapping you in fear.

3. Innovate – The Strength of Possibility (Not Just Productivity)

Your IBSC tells you to stick with what you know because it feels safe. It resists new ideas and tells you that reinvention is risky. But your Sage Mind thrives on creative possibilities.

💡 Try This: Instead of asking, “What’s the safest option?” ask, “What’s an exciting new way to approach this?” Give yourself permission to explore without needing a perfect plan.

4. Navigate – The Strength of Inner Wisdom (Not Just External Success)

We’ve spent years following external success markers—titles, promotions, achievements. But what happens when you’re in transition? The IBSC panics, making you doubt your next steps. Your Sage Mind, however, already knows the way forward.

💡 Try This: Ask yourself, “If I already had all the wisdom I needed, what would I choose?” Sit with the answer before seeking validation from outside sources.

5. Activate – The Strength of Calm, Clear, Focused Action

Your IBSC loves to keep you busy—but are you busy with things that truly matter? Sage-led action is deliberate, calm, and meaningful—not just productivity for productivity’s sake.

💡 Try This: Before jumping into another task, pause. Ask: “Is this the most aligned use of my energy right now?”

The Let Them Theory: The Shortcut to Sage Thinking

One of the fastest ways to shift into your Sage Mind is by practicing the Let Them Theory (inspired by Mel Robbins). It’s a simple but powerful mindset shift:

🦋 Someone cuts in line? Let them.
 🦋 A friend cancels last minute? Let them.
 🦋 A client chooses someone else after you put in all the effort? Let them.

It’s not about giving up—it’s about freeing yourself from wasting energy on things you can’t control.

And once you let go, turn inward:

🦉 Let me focus on what actually moves me forward.
🦉 Let me respond with patience instead of frustration.
🦉 Let me be grateful for what’s working instead of fixating on what’s not.

This shift is simple—but it changes everything.

Strengthen Your Sage Mind & Reclaim Your Energy

Your IBSC doesn’t have to run the show anymore. By strengthening your Sage Mind, you can move through life’s challenges with more ease, clarity, and confidence.

If you’re ready to put these tools into practice and train your brain to shift from stress to wisdom, I invite you to explore the Sage Mind Generator Program—an 8-week guided experience designed to help you build the habits of mental fitness, emotional resilience, and inner clarity.

Because the next chapter of your life isn’t about working harder. It’s about thinking differently.

Let’s get started.