Do you ever find yourself standing in your own way? Self-sabotage is a common phenomenon that can prevent you from achieving your goals. It is often caused by low self-esteem, negative self-talk, and other negative emotions that are continually reinforced by the resulting failure. Fortunately, it is possible to overcome self-sabotage and achieve your goals. Self-sabotage can take many forms, such as procrastination, perfectionism, relationships, work, finances, time, and change.
For example, a perfectionist may be so focused on achieving a perfect result that they rule out gradual improvements that could help them reach their goal. To overcome self-sabotage, it is important to monitor your behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs about yourself. When you identify negative patterns of thinking or behavior that stand between you and your goals, challenge them. For example, if you tend to stress eat after work, try replacing this behavior with a healthy snack instead of junk food.
Vision boards can also be helpful in overcoming self-sabotage. A vision board appeals to the right side of the brain which is more connected to its artistic and less rational side. Using images, sounds, scents, tactile material, etc., can help you communicate with your amygdala-driven self. Recent research has also shown that procrastination is an emotional form of self-sabotage.
According to Joseph, self-sabotage occurs when you do certain things that were adaptive in a context but are no longer necessary.
