Facing Weaponized Uncertainty

That’s exactly how the last few months have felt. Tariffs, market shifts, and economic turbulence have put many of our client’s growth and expansion plans on hold. It’s a waiting game.

Uncertainty is exhausting. It puts us in a reactive state, fueling doubt, fear, and a sense of losing control. When faced with the unknown, our brains default to survival mode, clinging to old patterns that may no longer serve us or the circumstances we are currently facing.

Shirzad Chamine, author of Positive Intelligence, identifies nine common self-sabotaging patterns—mental reflexes that kick in under stress and times of uncertainty, undermining performance, relationships, and peace of mind.

They include:

• The Controller – Struggles to let go and trust others
• The Hyper-Achiever – Ties self-worth to performance
• The Hyper-Vigilant – Always scanning for potential disaster
• The Pleaser – Seeks external validation at the cost of personal needs
• The Victim – Feels powerless and trapped by circumstances

(You can take a 3-minute self-sabotage assessment to get a personalized report on which patterns impact you the most.)

Understanding these patterns is the first step toward mental fitness.

What is Mental Fitness?

Mental fitness is the ability to meet challenges with a clear, focused, and resilient mindset—especially in uncertain times. It helps leaders manage stress, make better decisions, and stay composed under pressure.

This April, Coach Fyfe will be launching a series of Mental Fitness Training Groups— designed to help you:
Develop self-awareness and recognize when you’re operating from fear and reactivity
Shift out of self-sabotage and regain command over your mindset
Navigate uncertainty with calm, creativity, and laser focus

You may not control external chaos, but you can control how you show up to it.

If you are curious, simply respond “MORE” to this email and we can share more information about the programming.

Join us and build a more resilient mindset that can turn this time of uncertainty into opportunity.

Mental Fitness has been transformative for both me and my clients. I first encountered it through the Positive Intelligence Program, which I joined six months into the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was working full-time at a start-up that had just gone through layoffs, leaving me with a workload that increased by 25% overnight. Already on the brink of burnout before the pandemic, I was hesitant to try the program due to how overwhelmed I felt. But, on a friend’s recommendation, I decided to give it a shot. Within weeks, I was better at managing my stress, felt less overwhelmed, and found myself in a more positive and proactive mindset. The impact was so profound that just four months later, I decided to leave my job and pursue coaching full-time. Today, Positive Intelligence is at the core of my coaching practice, and I recommend it to everyone.”

~ Fyfe Barraclough, BYB Associate Coach