Anchoring in our Sage Perspective

Have you noticed how the most grounded, inspiring people generally don’t just do things differently - they are different.

It’s less about the actions they take, and more about how they show up - mentally, emotionally and energetically.

It’s not that they have all the right skills or are necessarily naturally charismatic. It’s more about how they hold themselves in life - and especially when things get tough.

The great news?

This kind of presence and inner strength isn’t just something some lucky people are born with

- it’s something we can all train.

It comes from building mental fitness - our ability to stay calm, focused and positive even when life throws its inherent curveballs.

A big part of that is learning to shift our perspective - from stress and self-judgment to something much more powerful:

our Sage perspective.

Much in life is simply a matter of perspective.
It's not inherently good or bad, a success or failure; it's how we choose to look at things that makes the difference.  

~ David Niven

The Sage perspective

It’s the part of us that sees things clearly, calmly and creatively.

Instead of reacting with fear, frustration or judgment, it pauses, takes a breath, and says:

“Okay. This is happening. Now, how can I grow from this?”

There’s a well-known story - “the farmer and the horse” - that sums this up beautifully.

A horse runs away, and people say, “Oh no, that’s terrible.” But the farmer simply says, “Maybe. We’ll see.” The horse returns with more horses. People cheer - “Great news!” Again, he says, “Maybe.” The story continues.

The point?

Life is full of twists and turns, and we don’t always know what’s “good” or “bad” in the moment. 

The Sage accepts that - and finds the gift in any situation.

What happened, happened and couldn’t have happened in any other way… because it didn’t.

~ Peter Crone

Our saboteurs' mental chatter

But first, we need to notice and quiet the mental noise.

Most of us have a bunch of internal voices - our Saboteurs - that feed us doubt, criticism, anxiety, frustration and more.

They’re the ones that say things like “You’re not good enough,” “This is a disaster,” or “You’ll never figure this out.”

The first step is becoming aware of these patterns.

The next step is training ourselves to stop letting these condescending voices run the show.

That’s where PQ reps (short, simple mental exercises) come in - they help us shift out of Saboteur mode and into Sage mode.

Think of them as “mindfulness on the move.”

Anything that helps us come home to our senses, our felt sense present-moment experience, can act as a PQ rep. 

Try rubbing your finger tips, wriggling your toes, feeling the air move through your nose with every breath, listening to the rain drops on your window, savouring the subtle flavours of your food or zooming in on that little bug on the wall...

So what does the Sage actually do?

Our Sage has five core powers - five ways of thinking and responding to life that help us stay grounded, resilient and open-hearted:

• Empathise – This is about showing compassion, appreciation and forgiveness - not just to others, but to ourselves (often the hardest one). When we reconnect with the part of ourself that’s kind, innocent and worthy - the one from our childhood photos - we can unlock deep emotional strength.

 

• Explore – This is curiosity in action. Instead of jumping to conclusions, we get curious. We ask “What else could be true here?” or “What can I learn from this?” It opens up space for insight and growth.

 

• Innovate – Here’s where creativity steps in. Instead of replaying the same old patterns, our Sage helps us see fresh possibilities - even in stuck situations. 

 

• Navigate – This power helps us find our direction when we’re at a crossroads. We zoom out and ask “What matters most to me? What choice would future-me thank me for?”

 

• Activate – Now it’s time to take action - not rushed or reactive, but calm, focused and purposeful. No procrastinating. No spiralling. Just clarity and momentum.

Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all.

~ The Buddha

Mental fitness changes everything 

We can apply these powers to literally anything — relationships, parenting, health, personal goals, tricky conversations, everyday stress... You name it.

And when we build this mental fitness, it starts to change everything. We feel more emotionally balanced. We get less triggered. We’re more creative and kind. We stop getting in our own way.

And it’s not just a nice idea - it works.

In a study of over 2,000 people who went through six weeks of mental fitness training using the Positive Intelligence (PQ) method:

• 98% grew in emotional intelligence
• 90% used their mental/emotional energy more effectively
• 85% felt happier
• 91% managed stress better
• 83% built self-confidence
• 84% improved how they handle conflict

And the best part?

It doesn’t require hours of our time or some radical lifestyle overhaul. It’s about simple shifts in how we think and building new mental habits that stick.

Taking a moment to reflect

🌱  How often am I led by my Sage - or by saboteur tendencies?

🌱  What’s one challenge I'm dealing with that could use a fresh Sage perspective?

🌱  Which of the Sage Powers do I feel most drawn to right now?

🌱  Which of the mental fitness benefits would make the biggest difference for me?


And, here's to building our mental muscles - and to living more fully, intentionally and peacefully, no matter what life throws our way.

If you'd like to find out more about Positive Intelligence, drop me a line.

Get in touch

For related blogs see:

Befriending our Restless Saboteur
From Pleasing to Receiving
What is Spacious Steps Coaching?