IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, measures our basic mathematical and verbal intelligence. EQ, or Emotional Quotient, measures our emotional awareness, both of ourselves and others, as well as our skill at managing our moods, directing our emotions and influence, and relating to others. These parts of EQ are sometimes referred to as inner EQ and outer EQ, or self EQ and social EQ.

PQ stands for Positive Quotient and is calculated as the percentage of time your mind is serving you as opposed to sabotaging you.

If IQ and EQ determine a person’s maximum potential achievement, PQ governs how much of that maximum a person actually attains.

The good news is that while IQ is relatively fixed, both EQ & PQ are skill sets that can improve quickly with awareness, practice, and concerted effort.

“Positive Intelligence” by Shirzad Chamine of Sanford University outlines “the struggle between the Sage, who has access to your wisdom, insights, and often untapped mental powers and the Saboteurs or your internal enemies. Saboteurs are a set of automatic and habitual mind patterns, each with its own voice, beliefs, and assumptions that work against your best interests. There are ten Saboteurs: Judge, Stickler, Pleaser, Hyper-Achiever, Victim, Hyper-Rational, Hyper-Vigilant, Restless, Controller and Avoider.” Chamine’s strategies are to 1. weaken your Saboteurs, 2. strengthen your Sage, and 3. build up your mind muscles.

Saboteur thoughts (the need to criticize, the need to control, the need to be ever vigilant about threats, and so on) are linked to our basic survival instincts. They are both natural and necessary but in excess and if unbalanced can hold us back if we do not also make room for the powers and tools of the Sage—empathy, innovation, creativity, connection, serendipity. We all need our survival instincts but letting them become our default mode tremendously limits our potential.

“Positive Intelligence” speaks to the need to always be on your own side, to not rent out space in your brain to the opposition, to be your own best friend, and to be an enthusiastic member of your personal cheerleading squad.

Closing quote:
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”  — Measure for Measure, Act 1 Scene 4, Lucio speaking. William Shakespeare; 1564–1616