What is Self-Sabotage?

Do you feel that something is holding you back? Have you ever gone out of your way to NOT look after yourself? Or repeated the same patterns of behaviour over and over again and expected a different result?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, don’t worry you are not alone. Maybe you are self-sabotaging and listening to the inner critic or voice too much, without questioning those thoughts, beliefs, excuses and bringing awareness to or feeling the emotions, so you can gain insight and see what is really happening?

What is Self-Sabotage?

Before we identify what self-sabotage is, let’s have a look at the definitions of sabotage from a range of dictionaries as they may give us some clues. According to the following, sabotage is –

• “the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does not work correctly” or “an act or process tending to hamper or hurt” – Miriam-Webster Dictionary
• “deliberately destroy, damage or obstruct (something)” – Oxford Dictionary
• “to deliberately stop someone from achieving something, or to deliberately prevent a plan or process from being successful.” – MacMillian Dictionary
• “any undermining of a cause” or “any underhand interference with production, work etc…” – Dictionary.com

Mmm – so looking at these definitions and then adding the “self” to them, does self-sabotage mean –

• the act of destroying or damaging our self deliberately so that we do not work correctly?
• an act or process tending to hamper or hurt ourselves,
• deliberately destroy, damage or obstruct ourselves,
• to deliberately stop our self from achieving something, or to deliberately prevent a plan (i.e. a goal or intention) or process from being successful (e.g. our life),
• any undermining of a cause (i.e. are we undermining ourselves?), or
• any underhand interference (e.g. not caring for ourselves) with production, work etc..

Another way I have heard self-sabotage described is in regards to energy or life force. For example – self-sabotage is the resistance (internal conflict or blocked energy) to the flow of life or Chi.

Question for Reflection –

• What does self-sabotage mean for you?

Over to You….

Are you ready to see any behaviours and feel the emotions that are holding you back from sharing your gifts with the world?

One thing I have learnt on my journey around self-sabotage is that I was sometimes protecting myself (or who I thought I was) and my vulnerabilities and waiting for someone to save me and not consciously self-sabotaging. So make sure you take care of your self and remember there is another way to live (free from suffering) 🙂

If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heart, why not join our Toolkit?

Please note – life is a personal journey and each day it’s changing. So it is important to continually look after yourself (i.e. make it a habit) and take time out to reflect on your overall health and wellbeing.