The subtle art of overcoming self-sabotage

Do you ever catch yourself saying, “I want to create a successful business, but I keep getting in my own way?”

Maybe you’ve had a brilliant idea for months, or even years, but you still haven’t taken action. Instead, you find yourself caught in the familiar cycle of procrastination, convincing yourself, “I’ll do it tomorrow. I just need to sort out a few things first.” Sound familiar?

Deep down, you know it’s not just about having enough time or even the right plan. There’s something else at play – something more internal, something that keeps whispering, “I’m not good enough. I don’t have what it takes.”

That inner voice is the epitome of self-sabotage, and if we’re being honest, it’s something we all experience at some point on our journey as business owners.

What is self-sabotage, and why do we do it?

Before we dive into how to overcome self-sabotage, let’s explore why it happens in the first place.

Self-sabotage is often a sign of fear. Yes, that fear can take many forms, but at its core, it typically revolves around:

1. Fear of failure – What if I try and it doesn’t work out?
2. Fear of not being worthy – Am I really deserving of success? Why would anyone choose me?
3. Fear of stepping outside your comfort zone – The familiar feels safe, even if it means staying stuck.

This fear can make you hesitant to move forward, causing you to procrastinate, avoid challenges, or set unrealistic expectations that you can’t meet. Sometimes, the idea of success itself can feel overwhelming – especially if it brings with it new responsibilities, public visibility, or stepping into unknown territory.

But here’s the thing … this fear doesn’t have to define you. It’s not the end of the road. It’s an invitation to grow.

How to recognise the signs of self-sabotage

The tricky part about self-sabotage is that it often flies under the radar. We rationalise our behaviour, making excuses that seem perfectly logical in the moment.

Here are a few ways self-sabotage might be showing up in your business:

• Procrastination – Waiting until the “perfect” time to launch that new product or service
• Perfectionism – Spending countless hours tweaking every detail because it’s never “good enough” to share with the world
• Avoidance – Putting off difficult tasks, like pitching to clients or marketing yourself, because the thought of rejection is too daunting
• Overworking – Keeping yourself busy with low-priority tasks to avoid the real needle-moving activities that feel scary or overwhelming

The common thread between all of these is fear, manifesting itself in different ways. But here’s the good news: the moment you recognise these behaviours, you gain the power to change them.

Shifting from self-sabotage to self-belief

What if you flipped the script?

What if, instead of letting those fearful thoughts hold you back, you chose to trust that your potential is bigger than your doubts? That you are good enough, capable, and worthy of every bit of success you desire?

This shift in mindset is the game-changer.

But let’s be real – it’s not always easy to make that shift, especially when fear and doubt have been running the show for so long. So, where do you begin?

Start with these small, but powerful steps:

1. Take one small step today. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Pick something that you’ve been avoiding – maybe it’s emailing a potential client, posting on social media, or setting aside time to work on your business strategy. Take one small step in the direction of your goal, no matter how tiny it may seem.
2. Do the thing you’ve been avoiding. Procrastination is often fear in disguise. The more you avoid something, the bigger it looms in your mind. Break it down into manageable chunks and tackle it one piece at a time.
3. Give yourself permission to try, without needing to be perfect. Perfectionism is a form of self-sabotage that keeps you stuck. Instead of waiting until everything is flawless, give yourself permission to be imperfect. Taking imperfect action is better than taking no action at all. Done is better than perfect!
4. Challenge your limiting beliefs. That inner voice that says, “I’m not good enough” is not the truth. It’s a belief – and beliefs can be changed. Start by questioning it. What evidence do you have that you’re not good enough? Likely, you’ll realise it’s just a fear-driven thought and not based on reality. Replace it with a new, empowering belief: “I am capable. I am worthy of success.”
5. Celebrate progress, not just results. Success doesn’t always come in big, grand gestures. It’s built in the small steps, the everyday decisions to show up and keep moving forward. Celebrate each step, no matter how small. It’s these consistent actions that will ultimately lead to the bigger breakthroughs.

Believing in yourself

The foundation of all success starts with believing in yourself – even when it feels hard. Especially when it feels hard.

There will always be moments when self-doubt creeps in, when you wonder if you have what it takes to build the business you dream of. But the truth is, those doubts are just part of the process. They don’t define your potential.

Every time you take a step outside your comfort zone, you’re proving to yourself that you can do this – that your business and life goals are worth fighting for, that you’re capable of more than you ever imagined.

Embrace imperfection

Remember this – You don’t have to have it all figured out today. Success is a journey, not a destination. The most important thing is that you keep moving forward, even when fear tries to hold you back.

So, what’s the one thing you’ve been putting off? What’s the action you’ve been avoiding because it feels too big, too scary, or too risky?

Take that step today. Trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way, even if it’s imperfect. And most importantly, believe that you are enough just as you are – capable of building the business and life you dream of, one step at a time.

Because you are. You absolutely are.