Self-Sabotage

Published on February 4, 2025

Lori Boxer
Weight★No★More℠ Diet Center

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Self-sabotage involves actions (or inactions), conscious or unconscious, that undermine a person’s progress and prevent them from achieving their goals, despite their intentions.

Why do people self-sabotage?

Fear of success:

Some fear the responsibility, attention, or change that success can bring, so they sabotage themselves to avoid those potential challenges.

Fear of failure:

Others may fear the potential for disappointment or judgment if they try and fail, so they create obstacles to avoid the risk.

Low self-worth:

Negative self-talk and a belief in one’s own inadequacy can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors that perpetuate a cycle of failure.

Need for control:

Some individuals may find that self-sabotage provides a sense of control in situations where they feel powerless.

Past traumas:

Traumatic experiences can lead to the development of maladaptive behaviors, including self-sabotage, to cope with past pain.

Comfort:

Staying within a comfort zone, even if it’s limiting, can be more appealing than facing the discomfort of personal growth and change.

Self-sabotage often serves as a coping mechanism that people use to deal with stressful situations and past traumas. Unfortunately, it typically makes problems worse and limits a person’s ability to successfully move forward in a healthy way.

What are some of the common signs of self-sabotage?

Procrastination:
Delaying important tasks or commitments – such as the commitment to lose weight.

Neglecting personal needs:
Prioritizing others’ needs over one’s own – which gives them the excuse that they are “always busy” so, of course, they don’t have time for themselves.

Unhealthy coping mechanisms:
Engaging in behaviors like overeating to deal with stress.

Repeating unhealthy patterns:
Constantly finding oneself in similar situations that lead to negative outcomes.

Low self-esteem and negative self-talk:
Criticizing oneself harshly and lacking confidence in one’s abilities.

In my business, I often see clients sabotage themselves just as they’re “thisclose” to reaching goal weight.

Why do they do this?

Because deep inside, they don’t really feel worthy of success.

The inner perception of being basically flawed, unlovable or outcast/different from those around them (i.e., when they are the only overweight or obese member of their family or within their social circle), influences their world view when it comes to making their lifestyle decisions.

People who don’t value themselves don’t make healthy choices.

And people who don’t value themselves also find the idea of being successful so at odds with their self-image that they sabotage themselves to keep from succeeding.

Why would a person put forth all the effort it takes to lose weight and then, just when the goal is in sight, do things to put him/herself on the slippery slope to where they started?

The answer is that sabotage is a clear signal that unresolved emotional issues need to be brought to light to achieve lasting success.

If a person doesn’t identify the part(s) of themselves that keeps getting in their own way, they’re doomed to keep repeating the same self-sabotaging behaviors. And when people take these destructive steps, their harmful behavior can negatively impact nearly every part of their lives including their relationships and careers.

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