Why do we sabotage what we really want?

Success is something that most people strive for in their lives, yet many of us find ourselves sabotaging our own success. It’s an all-too-common problem that can leave us feeling frustrated and stuck.

But why do we do it? Why do we sabotage our own success?

One of the biggest reasons we sabotage our success is fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of the unknown. We may be afraid of what will happen if we fail or we may even be afraid of what will happen if we succeed (seriously this happens). This fear can be paralysing, and it can lead us to self-sabotage in subtle or not-so-subtle ways.  

Another reason we sabotage our success is that we don’t believe we deserve it. We may have a deep-seated belief that we’re not good enough, smart enough, talented enough, or deserving enough to achieve success. This belief can be reinforced by past experiences or negative self-talk, and it can be difficult to overcome.  So maybe an opportunity arises and instead of going for it with head on, we decide to let it go by or don’t even see it.

Also, hands up if you’ve got a perfectionist streak.  We may have impossibly high standards for ourselves, and we may be unwilling to accept anything less than perfection. Aiming for the moon can sometimes mean we delay taking action, steer clear of risks, or throw in the towel too soon.  This can lead us to procrastinate, avoid taking risks, or give up before we’ve even started.

Finally, are you chasing what you genuinely want?

Sometimes, we find ourselves running towards goals that aren’t truly ours.  This can lead us to make choices that are not aligned with our true desires, which can ultimately lead to frustration and self-sabotage.

So how do we escape this whirlwind of self-sabotage?

The first step is to put on those self-awareness glasses. Spot the patterns and behaviours that are acting as speed bumps on your road to success. Once you see them clearly, you can start to make some changes. This could involve catching up with a mentor or coach, starting some new positive habits, or just being a bit kinder to yourself.  

Want to dive deeper into this?  

Download my easy-to-read guide here – Free Sources

Let’s stop tripping ourselves up and start living the life we truly deserve.