How To Overcome Self-Sabotage

Are you your own worst enemy?

Self-sabotage is purposefully destroying what you have built.

Let’s understand this phenomenon:

Carl Gustav Young described this as “The Shadow”.

Steven Pressfield called it “Resistance” in his books.

If you want to solve the problem, you have to understand it first.

Let’s dive in.

Self-sabotage can stem from:

- Hidden character traits
- Misalignment within yourself
- Lack of clarity about your vision
- Deep-rooted beliefs formed in childhood

The first step to overcoming self-sabotage is to reflect on your own past and identify reoccurring patterns or traumatic experiences.

This could be childhood bullying or the death of a parent for example.

Those events can lead to a distorted self-image.

Practice self-awareness to recognize when you are engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors.

Being mindful of your thoughts and actions interrupts negative patterns before they escalate.

You can become better at this through meditation or journaling.

Set meaningful goals and create a plan to achieve them.

Even better, base those goals on an all-encompassing vision.

Breaking down big goals into smaller steps prevents overwhelm.

A clear direction in life will reduce the likelihood of self-sabotage.

Create a coherent self-image that aligns with your vision and goals.

But also categorize your shadow.

Make a list of all the behaviors and thought patterns that you engage in when you sabotage yourself.

This could be binge eating when trying to lose weight for example.

Build a support system of friends and family.

You can also seek advice from a therapist.

But make sure to find emotional support from people you trust to talk about those patterns.

Practice self-compassion and forgiveness.

Be kind to yourself when setbacks occur.

Remember that nobody is perfect.

Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend.

Focus on building self-confidence and self-esteem.

This will create a positive feedback loop by recognizing your patterns and aligning your subconscious with your vision.

Celebrate your successes, no matter how small.

Acknowledging your achievements will boost your self-esteem and reinforce positive behaviors.

This will make it easier to overcome self-sabotage in the future — for good.