“People tend to dwell more on negative things than on good things. So the mind then becomes obsessed with negative things, with judgments, guilt and anxiety produced by thoughts about the future and so on.” – Eckhart Tolle
Have you ever found yourself wanting something with every ounce of your being but you are too afraid to attempt to take action? Have you had an amazing opportunity present itself but you said no because you just ‘knew’ you would fail? If you answered yes, anxiety may be the problem.
One of the main symptoms of anxiety is self-sabotage. To determine if you are self-sabotaging, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why do I think that I can’t succeed?
- Is an event from my past influencing how I see this current situation or the potential outcome of this situation?
- How would my world look if I said yes to this opportunity?
- What could be fueling my negative self-perception? Is there any tangible proof that I won’t succeed?
- Am I afraid to fail or am I afraid to succeed?
Anxiety is a real thing. Remind yourself that you aren’t weak or powerless, you are dealing with a powerful condition that can be remedied. Awareness is the first step. Congratulate yourself for taking the time to answer the five above questions. You have taken the first step towards embracing change and conquering self-sabotage.
Change is scary for everyone. It is much safer to stay in your current position, even if it’s painful, because the pain is ‘known’. The good news is that you can push through change, with the help of a therapist or life coach. These trained individuals have tools that will empower you to push past your negative limiting beliefs and towards your bright future!