First, let’s start off with what does self-sabotaging actually mean. A behavior is said to be self-sabotaging, when it holds you back from doing what you actually want to do, it undermines your goals. How different is self-sabotaging from failure? We’ll when you fail to complete or achieve something because of certain external factors or because you just didn’t work the right way it’s called failure but self-sabotaging is something to do with your inner thoughts or behavioural pattern that causes you to fail.
There are mainly two types of self-sabotaging behaviour:-
1. Conscious self-sabotage:- It happens when you are aware that your behaviour is keeping you away from what you want to do and achieve your goals. Example:- You know that your mum asked you to buy some groceries that she needs but you end up playing your video games instead. 2. Unconscious self-sabotage:- It happens when you behavioural patterns keep you away from doing what you want to do or in achieving your goals indirectly and you realise it later. Example:- Students who fear failing often either come always late to classes or do not perform well in exams wantedly to avoid the expectations of the teachers and students. Higher expectations lead to more pain when not succeeded.
Let’s have a look at few forms of self-sabotaging behaviours commonly seen:-
1. Procrastination:- As human beings, we all have procrastinated at some point of our lives, or we still continue to do so. We often delay our school assignments, or the work assigned by our bosses in office, or have delayed some work even though we know we have to do it, this is a very common form of self-sabotaging often shown by most of us. It does no good to us but still we consciously choose to procrastinate. 2. Abuse of substances;- People often drink and smoke a lot and even use drugs. These may give you short term satisfaction but it creates a lot of problems. People tend to drink and use drugs, if they’ve gone through a tough time at work or college, but that does not entirely negate the problem. You might not be able to enjoy your time with friends and family because you’re drunk . 3. Stress eating:- When a lot of people face problems, they end up eating a lot out of stress, but this doesn’t help them at all . For a short period of time it might give you the comfort you require, but it ends up ruining your health.
Conclusion:-
Self-sabotaging can go a long way in creating problems for you. The only one that can stop it is you. We show this behaviour typically in three situations:-
1. When you realise that everything is going good but you somehow try and spoil it
yourself. 2. When you work hard to achieve something and you destroy it as soon as you come
close to it. 3. When it’s time to stand up and speak for yourself but you instead keep mum about
the situation.
If you want to stop self-sabotaging, you must realise the purpose it has in your life, and what it does to you. You must practice facing difficult situations in life and even failure. You must try finding alternative behaviours to fill in. The best way to stop this is aiming to improve your good habits, rather than just eliminating self-sabotaging behaviour you possess.
Track2Training 