It's not uncommon for people to undermine their own good intentions and long-term goals. Self-sabotage happens when individuals hinder their own success, and it is often due to low self-esteem, negative self-talk, and related negative emotions that are continually reinforced by the resulting failure. Self-sabotage behaviors can include procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and forms of self-harm such as cutting. It is also rooted in counterproductive mentalities such as perfectionism, imposter syndrome, negativity, disorganization, indecision, and negative self-talk.
Meaningless distractions can also be an insidious form of self-sabotage that prevents us from achieving our goals. This behavior can affect almost every aspect of our lives, from relationships to professional goals to personal goals such as weight loss. Although it's very common, it's an incredibly frustrating cycle of behavior that reduces our self-confidence and makes us feel trapped. The underlying cause of self-sabotage is often a lack of faith in oneself.
To overcome this behavior, it is important to monitor your behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs about yourself and challenge them when they stand between you and your goals.
