Stop selling yourself short

Stop selling yourself short (Photo: iStock)

Eric, a talented graphic designer has a knack for creating captivating visuals and is constantly working on exciting projects. He lands a huge freelance project that could elevate his career and set him up financially but as the deadline approaches, he finds himself on a gaming marathon instead of working.

As the clock ticks and time flies by, anxiety grips him forcing him to produce a rushed, subpar submission. This familiar cycle of procrastination and self-doubt you and I have gone through at least once in our lives illustrates a common phenomenon known as self-sabotage.

This is an unconscious behaviour that undermines our goals and aspirations. Self-sabotage manifests in various ways, from procrastination and perfectionism to negative self-talk and avoidance. It is often rooted in deep-seated fears such as the fear of failure or even the fear of success.

Sadly, most of us might not recognize these patterns as self-destructive until they have already derailed our progress.

The impulse to hold yourself back can stem from a belief that you are unworthy of success and before you know it, you become a hindrance to your success in turn reinforcing feelings of inadequacy.

Recognizing the signs of self-sabotage is crucial for fostering self-awareness. Individuals may notice chronic procrastination where they delay important tasks until the last minute or engage in perfectionism, setting unrealistically high standards that ultimately lead to disappointment.

When inner dialogue is dominated by criticism and doubt, as well as a tendency to create excuses to avoid pursuing opportunities, you’re in real trouble. Such behaviours can create a cycle that reinforces low self-esteem and discouragement making you think that success is out of reach.

To understand why this occurs, research shows that many people engage in self-sabotaging behaviours as a misguided form of self-protection. When faced with the prospect of change, the fear of stepping outside one’s comfort zone can trigger self-defeating actions.

Overcoming this requires intentional effort and a willingness to confront uncomfortable emotions. One effective approach is to cultivate self-awareness through journaling or mindfulness practices.

By reflecting on triggers and thought patterns, you can identify moments when you are tempted to fall into that trap and challenge those underlying beliefs. One of the best ways to overcome this problem is to set realistic and achievable goals which help mitigate the paralyzing effects of perfectionism.

This way, you create room for incremental progress rather than overwhelming expectations.