I think disgust is a pretty harsh term for what you’re describing here, but I love the point. I think disgust could be misinterpreted as a term for self-hate, which is a very unhealthy state of mind that can lead to issues of depression, self-loathing, and a really ruthless cycle. I think for strong willed people maybe they could handle being disgusted with their current self and be able to find that energy to go change and redefine their self. However, for most, I think reaching a point of self disgust just ends up as a downward spiral that ends with you in a worse state than you were before.

You describe one instance (your own I suppose) where you reached a point where you couldn’t “take it” any more, so you decided to change. Well, people tend to be a bit more radical, even extreme. Usually when someone “can’t take it” anymore, they make a rash decision. Yep I’m talking suicide for the depressed, physical harm to a loved one because they’ve been a ticking time bomb filled with anger and just decide that THEY can’t take it so they let it out on you… It’s just not worth it taking things that close to the edge by having all this pent up frustration.

I think more effective, lasting change is to hit that moment similar to what you’ve described, sort of “fed up” with your current status. But I don’t think that should come from disgust, that starts you off on the pessimistic foot. I think you need to start off with the “desire to change” foot, a desire that builds and builds not out of a want to change because you think you’re bad, but instead because you think you’re good and you believe you have the ability within yourself to promote that change. To start it. And you want to make that change not because you’re worse now than you will be later, but because you will be better off in the long run and happier with yourself than you are now.

See? it’s about optimism, and hope, not negativity and despair. Make the change, just do it the right way.