Looking up pictures of an ex-girlfriend when you know it’s going to hurt.

Leaving assignments to the last minute when you know it’ll affect your grade.

Not writing up your CV in time to apply for a job that’s perfect for you.

Self sabotage is a behaviour that interferes with our own long term goals, ultimately keeping us from achieve them. It’s us getting in our own way.

Weird hey?

It’s something that, at face value, makes very little sense. You’re literally stopping yourself from doing what you want to do.

But if you dig beneath the surface, there are many things that might promote this kind of behaviour. These might include fear of rejection, a low self esteem, impostor syndrome and sometimes just plain old anxiety.

How can we fix it?

In the short-term, it’s difficult to completely correct self-sabotaging behaviour. But some things can help. Firstly, be aware that you’re doing it. Simply recognizing it gives you a good grounding from which to operate. Next, and most importantly, have someone that can pull you out of that behaviour.

This might be a parent that calls you to make sure you’ve done the thing.

Or a friend who shouts at you to get your damn CV in.

Whatever it is, ask someone else to keep you accountable.

In the long term, a proper understanding and treatment of the underlying problem would be necessary. This might involve psychotherapy, psychiatric help or even spending time researching and unpacking it yourself.

It’s true that sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. But it doesn’t have to stay like that

Image is of a fire fighting helicopter in Newlands forest, taken in 2014 🙂

Blog: 206/365

Song of the day: Jonas Blue – Rise ft Jack & Jack