Standing in the way of your own progress. Do you?

Have you ever found yourself standing in your own way? Well, I've been there, too. Despite my best intentions, I realized I was the mastermind behind my own setbacks. It's like I had a habit of putting up roadblocks on my path to success, all thanks to self-limiting beliefs and a knack for procrastination.

You might ask, "What is self-sabotage?" Imagine you are on a journey toward a big goal, but you keep tripping over obstacles that you have placed in your own way. That is self-sabotage.

Yes, it is when our actions mess with our long-term plans, slowing us down or stopping us altogether. And yes, I've been guilty of this more than I'd like to admit.

One classic form of self-sabotage is procrastination—telling yourself you'll start "tomorrow," creating a gap between what you intend to do and what you actually do. Another sneaky way we sabotage ourselves is by holding onto beliefs that limit us. Ever talked yourself out of applying for a job because you felt you weren't qualified enough, even though you wanted it? That's self-sabotage at work.

But why do we do this to ourselves? According to this helpful article, it may be because of our subconscious beliefs. These deep-seated beliefs can contradict our conscious goals, leading us to act in ways that don't serve our best interests. It feels like part of us does not believe we can achieve what we want, so we don't even try.

To get past self-sabotage, we need to understand the positive intentions behind our actions. Every behavior, no matter how self-defeating it seems, is motivated by some positive intention, such as seeking comfort or avoiding pain. By recognizing these intentions, we can start to address the underlying beliefs and emotions driving our self-sabotage.

To address self-sabotage, you might want to:

• Reflect on Your Patterns: Take a step back and look at your behaviors. Ask yourself what beliefs might be fueling these patterns and what positive intentions they serve.
• Deep Dive into Self-Reflection: Rather than merely observing your behaviors, delve deeper into your psyche. Analyze the origins of your self-limiting beliefs. Were they inherited from past experiences, or perhaps absorbed from societal expectations? Understanding the genesis of these beliefs can provide clarity and direction in dismantling them.
• Feel and Release: Emotions are powerful. Allow yourself to feel and express the emotions tied to your self-limiting beliefs. This can help you break free from the grip these emotions have on you.
• Transform your emotions: Emotions are not just obstacles; they're signals. Actively transform negative emotions into catalysts for positive change. This might involve channelling feelings of inadequacy into motivation for skill development or converting anxiety into a drive for meticulous planning.
• Make Small Changes: Start with tiny, manageable changes in your behavior. This could be as simple as practicing mindfulness or spending more quality time with loved ones. These changes can help satisfy the positive intentions behind your self-sabotaging behaviors, making it easier to let them go.
• Incorporate Incremental Lifestyle Adjustments: Beyond making small behavioral tweaks, consider holistic lifestyle changes that can support a mindset shift. This could involve adopting a healthier diet, which directly impacts your mental state, or integrating physical activity into your routine to enhance your sense of well-being and self-efficacy.
• Seek External Perspectives: Sometimes, our internal compass might be too mired in subjective biases to guide us effectively. Engaging in conversations with trusted friends, mentors, or professionals can provide fresh insights into our self-sabotaging patterns and offer alternative strategies for overcoming them.
• Celebrate Progress, No Matter the Scale: Recognizing and rewarding yourself for each step taken towards overcoming self-sabotage reinforces positive behaviors and builds momentum. Whether it's acknowledging the courage it took to apply for that job or celebrating a day free from procrastination, every victory counts.

Remember, the journey to overcoming self-sabotage is as much about redefining our relationship with ourselves as it is about achieving specific goals and living a more fulfilled life. It is about understanding ourselves better, embracing our vulnerabilities, and making conscious choices that align with our deepest values and aspirations.