We are quick to blame external factors when we don’t immediately see the results we want, like hitting a weight loss goal.
I've heard them all...
I didn’t have time to exercise.
It was too difficult to meal plan and eat healthily.
It's too expensive to keep working with a Health Coach.
I was too busy at work and couldn't focus on all the other stuff.
And the list of excuses goes on. Now, if you do a bit of soul-searching and reflect on what part YOU may have played in the outcome, you may realize that you - and your not-so-positive mindset may be to blame for not achieving your goal!
It’s easy for negative self-talk and a negative mindset to slip into your routine from time to time. It happens to all of us.
But, when they start showing up on the regular, this can lead to self-sabotage, and ultimately stops you from achieving your goals - including those you’ve may have set for your health.
Signs That You’re Sabotaging Yourself
The tell-tale sign that you’re sabotaging yourself is when you seem to stop trying to achieve your goals for no reason at all. You likely still have the inclination and ability to do it, but ‘something’ just stops you from getting there.
Here are a few common signs of self-sabotage:
• Chronic procrastination
• Worry, anger, anxiety
• Feelings of worthlessness
• All-or-nothing/black-or-white thinking
• Unfulfilled goals, including those around health
What if that ‘something’ was your negative mindset or having a mindset that simply doesn’t align with who you really are, and what you want to achieve?
Three Ways To Stop Self-Sabotage In All Areas Of Your Life!
"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."
~ James Allen, Author
Here are three different steps that you can take to change your inner dialogue, encouraging more positive feelings and wholesome behaviors to keep you moving forward in your goals:
Recognize your self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors.
It all starts with the realization!
Stop Self-Sabotage (SSS) ACTION: Find some quiet time to jot down any thoughts that come to mind about why you feel (or have felt) a negative emotion or have engaged in negative self-talk, especially as it might relate to your health goal.
You may also want to do this work in a space that feels safe, secure and free of judgment - perhaps with a healer, counselor or coach, especially if you’re prone to self-doubt.
After coming up with a list, ask yourself, "Are any of these thoughts (or the behaviors they lead to) TRUE?"
2. Release negative thoughts and energy.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase before that “everything is energy”...
SSS ACTION: Instead of holding onto both other people’s AND your own negative energy - why not release it? Because it doesn’t serve you, give yourself permission to forgo ownership, and allow it to wash away.
3. Develop self-supporting behaviors and show some compassion - to yourself!
Beating yourself up and putting your health low on the priority list will only serve to keep you stuck in the same old negative patterns.
SSS ACTIONS: The next time you find yourself saying, "It's too hard to lose weight/get fit/reach my health goal - I’ll never be able to do it."...
Recognize that doubt, it IS hard to meet many health goals that we set for ourselves!
Then, replace these thoughts and statements with ones about how deserving you are of making your own health a top priority. Something along the lines of, "What is one thing I can do that’s a small step toward taking care of myself?"
Also, taking a moment to reflect on how you would respond to someone who’s going through similar struggles as you, and even writing down your response as a reminder to go easy on yourself more of the time.
Show yourself the same love, compassion and support you would your friends and loved ones.
BONUS SSS ACTION:
“When we label ourselves with statements like ‘I’m an emotional eater,’ you become a self-fulfilling prophecy and will continue the behavior.
Try dropping the -er and changing it to -ing. For example, instead of ‘I'm an emotional eater,’ change the statement to ‘I'm eating for emotional reasons.’
Emotional eating is a behavior. It isn't who you are.”
The bottom line is that letting these negative thoughts and behaviors LIMIT YOU is the real result of having a negative mindset, and that lapses do not spell disaster.
As the saying goes - progress, not perfection!
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