5 Steps To Stop Sabotaging Yourself

Cutting out the habit of sabotaging yourself is not easy. Many people start spooning out just before they are about to reach their goal. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said that “the difficulties increase the closer we get to the goal”. But not all of these difficulties come from the outside: some of them come from a place deep within ourselves.

You are trying to make a change in your personal, professional or social life. Say you decide to quit smoking, get promoted, or restore loving relationships with your family. Whatever your goal is, if you are prone to sabotaging yourself, watch out for pitfalls that will prevent you from doing what you want. And start with yourself.

Why you sabotage yourself

Going outside your comfort zone is never easy. It’s scary. After all, you are walking down roads you have never walked before, and you are a person you have never been before. Therefore, out of fear, you are sabotaging yourself.

A big reason for that, according to psychologist and coach Marta Torres, is your self-concept. That is, how you see yourself. What do you think about who you are? Changing how you perceive yourself may not be easy. But no matter what you think about yourself, if it’s not good it will not be long before you start sabotaging yourself.

Your lack of self-confidence and belief in yourself leads you to believe that you are not capable of achieving your goals. But instead of looking at yourself as mediocre, what if you had seen yourself as a worthy individual with an unshakable faith? Then you would place yourself on the path to success.

Steps to stop sabotaging yourself

Now let’s look at practical tips to stop sabotaging yourself. If you ever find yourself making excuses for not doing something, such as saying you do not have time, or postponing important things, you may be sabotaging yourself. If you accept an immediate reward and thus state one further ahead, open your eyes! You may be in the middle of the process of sabotaging yourself.

According to coach Marta Torres, the first step in combating self-sabotage will be to know yourself well. It’s a great way to identify harmful perceptions and start doing something about them.

Know that you can do it

Barack Obama did “Yes, we can!” famous. Then other political and social movements made it their own. Why? Because the first thing you need to be aware of if you want to stop sabotaging yourself is to know that your goals are achievable. It means setting goals for yourself that are actually achievable.

Only when you begin to eliminate negative perceptions from your head and realize that you are capable of doing whatever it is, will you be able to stop sabotaging yourself. But keep in mind that your goals should be realistic and sensible. Otherwise, frustration will be the only result.

Get motivated

Only motivated people will be able to realize that they can make their dreams come true. So when setting a goal for yourself, think: Is this what I really want? What about my other options? Do I have enough motivation to do it?

If you do not know how to be motivated, try to create an action plan with small goals on the way to your ultimate goal. Write a diary of your personal project and record your progress. Also talk to people you trust about your plans. It will make you feel more dedicated to the project.

Please be patient

Only patient people reach their goals. Why? Because they know the road there is long. They understand that you need to take small steps and enjoy each and every one of them. Hurrying if you do not reach your goal will only get you frustrated and probably only worsen your self-concept.

Remember that nothing is easy

It is also important to be aware that nothing worth doing will be easy. You need to be prepared for any challenge or setback that comes your way. This way, you will be ready to face any problem with a positive, constructive attitude.

Do not forget that balance is the key

Stability is also a fundamental part of getting out of the habit of sabotaging yourself. When you become stable in all areas – physically, mentally and emotionally – you will have the determination you need to do what you want with your life.

Follow these steps and you will be on the right path. Self-sabotage will only be a part of your past. The truth is that having a good self-concept is not that difficult. With patience, determination and willpower, there will no longer be any obstacle that can stop you.