Self-Sabotage…and What to Do About It!
When it comes to improving our lives, sometimes we do things that limit or even completely stop our progress! Often, self-sabotage comes from ways we learned to protect ourselves from challenges in the past, but these “survival skills” can really hold us back in realizing our full potential.
This cycle can be broken if we can can get honest with ourselves about it, and learn new ways of thinking. Here are some common types of self-sabotage, how they might show up along your fitness journey, and tips for getting out of your way:
Fear of Failure
avoiding risk, expecting that you won’t succeed
“I can’t stay consistent when we move next month, so what’s the point of working with a coach right now?”
“I don’t have time to meal prep, so I’ll work on my nutrition in a few months.”
“I’m not doing that 10k, because I'll probably have to walk for part of it.”
“I could never do a bodybuilding show, because I like food too much.”
Want to overcome fear of failure? Break your goal into small steps, view mistakes as lessons.
Fear of Success
staying in your comfort zone, resisting change
“I want more muscle tone, but the gym intimidates me, so I’m going to keep doing my peloton rides at home.”
“I’ve always had a belly. There’s no way I could ever see definition on my abs.”
“I want to drink less alcohol at, but I’m going to feel weird around my friends.”
“I’m so picky. I can’t eat boring chicken all day and it’s too hard to eat more protein.”
Want to overcome fear of success? TRY new things, even if it’s hard or makes you a little bit nervous.
Perfectionism
all-or-nothing mindset, unrealistic standards
“I’m going to wake up at 4am and workout 6 days a week no matter what.”
“I only have 30 minutes to workout instead of 60, so I’m just going to skip it.”
“I just need to follow this meal plan 100% and eat clean everyday.”
“I went out to eat this weekend, and the scale is up 4 pounds. I’ve obviously ruined all of my progress.”
Want to overcome perfectionism? Strive for “something is better than nothing”. Follow through gradually on small promises to build trust with yourself.
Low Self-Worth
lacking confidence and doubting yourself excessively
“She looks way better than I do in that crop top. I’ll never get to that level.”
“I am just being lazy. I always give up at this point.”
“Nobody cares about my progress. My friends will think it’s dumb if I share about this on social media.”
“I can work hard, but I’m not good enough to invest in a coach.”
Want to overcome low self-worth? Practice self-compassion, seek support, celebrate and share about your success.
Remember…
Understanding self-sabotage is just the start, and truly overcoming it can help you achieve feats you never knew you could! You deserve better.
Practice makes progress. Self-kindness and ongoing education go a long way in beating the self-sabotage gremlins. Keep taking that next step forward, one small win at a time.