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www.i-am-magazine.comself-compassion becomes her guiding principle.Here are a few strategies Alexandra canemploy to empower her Sage:Mindful Reflection: At the end of each day,Alexandra takes 10 minutes to reflect on heraccomplishments, no matter how small theymay seem. She focuses on what she'sgrateful for and practices celebrating smallwins because she knows they%u2019re important.She%u2019s reinforcing a positive self-image.1.Rewiring the %u201cDefault%u201d Messages: Whenher Saboteurs whisper doubts, Alexandrapauses. Rather than trying to force themaway by saying something positive, she firstjust pauses to release judgment. Sheidentifies if she%u2019s judging herself, others, orthe circumstance and then invites herself torelease ALL judgment. Your brain does notfunction well if you try to do a hard 180-degree turn from negative to positive.Instead, find a neutral mental focus. Thisallows your brain to slow down judgments,and once that area of the brain is less active,you can more easily access your SAGE brainpower.2.Seeking Support: Alexandra surroundsherself with a network of supportive peersand mentors who encourage her and offerconstructive feedback. This externalvalidation helps counteract the negativeself-talk and reinforces her confidence. Shealso works with a coach, who brings skillsand perspective that she wouldn%u2019t uncoveron her own.3.Your Call to ActionAlexandra's story is not unique, and herstruggle with self-doubt is a common narrativeamong women in leadership.However, her story%u2013and yours%u2013can change!By understanding Saboteurs, embracing theSage, and practicing neutral mental fitnessexercises, women can overcome the echo ofself-doubt and step into their full potential.If you're a woman leader struggling with feelingsof inadequacy, hear this: You are not alone andyour success is not a fluke. Your worth is notdefined by your achievements. But it doesn%u2019tmatter how often other people remind you ofthis if you don%u2019t also believe it yourself. Untilyou practice consistent rewiring of your ownmind, you%u2019ll always override external validation.43