Are you sabotaging your own happiness and success? Now, I know what you’re probably thinking — why would anyone do something so seemingly counter-intuitive? Yet millions of people do it every single day, sometimes without even realizing it. Self-sabotage is unfortunately quite real, and it’s up to you to recognize it in yourself and prevent it.
What is Self-Sabotage?
Have you ever had a grand opportunity you missed because you procrastinated too long? Or have you ever given up on a potentially wonderful relationship early on because you couldn’t stop thinking about all the reasons it could go wrong?
That’s self-sabotage. It’s when we get in the way of our successes and create our own downfall, often because we’re afraid of change, or somehow feel that we don’t deserve success. We can self-sabotage with negative thoughts and feelings, with inaction, with cruelty toward others, or even with substance abuse. Gone unrecognized without an attempt to fix the problem, it can be damaging to both your physical body and soul.
Turn Self-Sabotage into Self-Improvement
There’s really no method that’s set in stone when it comes to putting an end to self-sabotage, as the motives and behaviors can vary from person to person. However, these are some of the most important steps you can take:
- Realize that you sabotage yourself.
- Accept that a change needs to be made.
- Identify the fears or ideas about yourself that cause the behavior.
- Set goals that will allow you to deal with those feelings in healthier ways.
For instance, if you’re afraid to try new things out of fear of failure, start small. You may have long-term goals you’d like to achieve, but don’t overwhelm yourself with them right away. Reward yourself for accomplishing the day’s little challenges. In fact, find ways to reward yourself whenever you try something new, even if it doesn’t go as planned. If you start treating new experience as success rather than as a test you can pass or fail, it may not seem as scary.
Above all, recognize that you are on this Earth to learn and experience joy. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way — take pride in your accomplishments, even the small ones. No one is happy every moment of every day, but remember — our thoughts and intentions do create our realities. What will you create?
