Being too critical of yourself can cause significant emotional damage; find out how to stop self-sabotaging to achieve greater psychological well-being.
Last update: October 10, 2021
One of the problems that hinder our personal growth and cause discomfort is the tendency to underestimate ourselves and to place obstacles that prevent us from achieving the set goals. Believing you are inferior, worthless or incapable undermines self-esteem, and over time can have very negative consequences in all areas of life. Here because you have to stop sabotaging yourself!
The person we spend the most time with is ourselves; if we treat ourselves badly, don't take care of ourselves and punish ourselves, it will be very difficult to feel good and make our dreams come true.
Stopping self-sabotaging and resorting to mental traps is essential to take a step forward. Here's how to do it.
7 tips to stop sabotaging yourself
1. Open your mind, practice mental flexibility
The first step in stopping self-sabotaging is to adopt the right perspective on yourself. To do this, it is important to assess your level of mental rigidity. Do you really think about all the possibilities that exist when something happens? Or do you see the world more from an "all or nothing" perspective?
Being aware that there is more than one version of events, more than one possible option, and ultimately more than one perspective will help to look at oneself differently and not always act as self-judges.
2. Beware of perfectionism
Wanting to do things well is normal, the problem arises when this attitude is taken to the extreme. We cannot be perfect in everything. Making mistakes is more common than we imagine, as well as being an opportunity for growth.
If you always want to do everything right, you could feed too high expectations and needs, which will lead to continuous dissatisfaction and high levels of stress. Worrying is okay, but remember that sometimes perfection isn't so perfect.
3. Not everything is black or white
In life not everything is black or white, there is a whole range of shades in between. Events, therefore, will not always be good or bad, because there are different degrees and many variables to take into consideration.
Don't be discouraged when things don't seem to have a solution. Life is full of ups and downs. What may seem negative one day can have positive consequences for you later on.
4. Don't blame yourself for everything
To stop self-sabotaging it is important to get rid of the habit of blaming yourself for everything. Why do we do it? Reflecting on how to act differently by looking for alternatives will help you get better. Learn, therefore, to see each situation in perspective and to analyze what is happening in context.
Guilt is a very limiting feeling that is chained to the past. Because although it is fair to know where you have failed, to condemn yourself for it is not.
5. Evaluate yourself to stop self-sabotaging
Another way to stop self-sabotaging is evaluate your person objectively and, as far as possible, without judgment. To do this, think carefully about why some things are not going well for you and what problems you have at the moment.
Knowing where on your life path you are is essential for taking action. Furthermore, you should not only pay attention to what is wrong, but after analyzing this, we recommend that you think about the goals you want to achieve and how to do it. In other words, define goals and an action plan.
6. Don't expect to always be in control
Just as we need to reduce the claims of perfectionism, it is also good to try of not always being in control of every situation. More than anything else because it's not always possible, and even when you think it is, it isn't.
Although the feeling of control generates peace of mind, wanting to get it at all costs will be stressful or it may even cause anxiety. It is much better to practice mental stillness through meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises.
7. Stop self-sabotaging by overcoming the fear of making mistakes
This last tip to stop sabotaging yourself is related to the previous point. Just as it is good to try not to always be in control, it is also good to be aware that making mistakes is usually not the end of the world. And if you do, forgive yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself.
