Brainy Dose Presents:
The Psychology of Self Sabotage - Why We Sabotage Ourselves
Self-sabotage is when you do something that’s against your best interest,
despite having the capacity to do otherwise. This may be done through actions, words,
or thoughts. It can be as simple as procrastinating on a task, or as complex
as sabotaging your relationship with someone. Some people who self-sabotage don’t even
realize that they’re doing it and become stuck in negative patterns
that prevent them from progressing in life. In this video, we explore how to recognize
the most common reasons for self-sabotaging so that you can work toward overcoming them!
Number 1 - Lack of Self-Worth
Lack of self-worth is one of the leading reasons why people sabotage themselves. When you’re not
confident in your own abilities and talents, it’s much easier to settle for less than you deserve.
This is especially true if you have suffered from ‘abuse or neglect’ during your childhood,
as this can lead to feelings of low self-esteem. You may have been taught that you’re not good
enough, or that you will never be able to do anything right. So you don’t bother trying.
Number 2 - Fear of Success
Fear of success can make you self-sabotage because it can lead you to believe that you are incapable
of handling success or that you don’t deserve it. You may start to doubt your abilities and become
overly critical of yourself. You may also worry about how success will
change your relationships with others. This often leads to behaviors such as
procrastination, self-doubt, and avoidance, preventing you from reaching your goals.
Number 3 - Fear of Failure
In some cases, self-sabotaging behaviors can manifest as an
attempt at self-protection from the potential pain of failure.
You may be too overwhelmed by the idea of not succeeding to even try. Or you
may get so caught up in worrying about the potential for failure that you forget to focus
on the things that could help you succeed. This fear can lead you to set up roadblocks
and make it harder to take risks that could bring you closer to your goals.
Number 4 - Familiarity
Whether it’s falling back into old habits or making assumptions based on past experiences,
familiarity can lead to self-sabotage. The reason for this is that familiarity
creates a sense of comfort and safety in your mind even when it’s bad for you.
You feel like you know what to expect and how to handle the situation. So you let your guard
down - instead of approaching the situation with the same level of awareness and intention
as you would if it were new and unfamiliar. Because of this, you might miss opportunities,
make mistakes, and ultimately sabotage your own success.
Number 5 - Inconsistent or Conflicting Thoughts
Self-sabotage is a common result of having inconsistent or conflicting thoughts.
Your thoughts shape your behavior, so when they are at odds with one another,
it can be hard to take action and make decisions. This can be
especially challenging if those thoughts conflict with your values or beliefs.
When you’re uncertain about which thought to follow, it can be difficult to make
progress. As a result, you feel stuck or overwhelmed and start to doubt yourself.
Number 6 - Social or Peer Pressure
When you feel pressure from your social or peer group to conform to certain behaviors or beliefs,
it can be challenging to stay true to yourself. You can find yourself making decisions that don’t
align with your values or goals, just to fit in or avoid conflict.
Additionally, giving in to social or peer pressure can create a sense of internal
tension and stress, further hindering your ability to make healthy decisions.
Number 7 - Need to Be in Control
For some, the idea of failing without any control over the situation can be terrifying.
If you’re one of those individuals, you prefer to control your own failure rather
than be blindsided by it. To you, it just seems like a more dignified
alternative to spinning out of control. By sabotaging your own efforts, you feel
like you are taking control of the situation and preventing a potentially worse outcome.
Obviously, this approach is counterintuitive and can be harmful in the long run as it
causes you to give up or make decisions that are not in your best interest.
At the end of the day, self-sabotage can have a significantly negative impact on your life.
It may bring about feelings of guilt, anxiety, and depression, as well as physical health issues.
It can impede you from attaining your goals and cause you to miss out on opportunities.
Furthermore, self-sabotage can hamper the formation of meaningful relationships and
experiences that could help you maximize your potential.
To stop yourself from getting in the way of your own success,
pay attention to how you think, feel, and act,
and be willing to question negative patterns. Once you know why you are sabotaging yourself,
you can replace those beliefs and behaviors with ones that will actually help you reach your goals.
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