Self-Sabotaging Patterns: The Hidden Habits Holding You Back

You set goals. You want change. You know what needs to be done—but somehow, you still don’t do it.

Sound familiar?

That’s self-sabotage in action. It’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s a loop—often unconscious—where your own thoughts, behaviours or habits are working against you. And unless you name it, understand it, and start dismantling it, it’ll keep running the show.

What Does Self-Sabotage Look Like?

Self-sabotaging patterns don’t always scream “I’m ruining my life!” Most of the time, they whisper things that sound like:

• “I’ll start tomorrow.”

• “I’m not good enough anyway.”

• “What’s the point?”

• “I just need everything to be perfect first.”

You might recognise the procrastination, the perfectionism, the destructive relationship patterns, or the tendency to numb out instead of lean in. These aren’t random. They’re often rooted in deeper fears—fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being seen, fear of repeating past trauma.

Why We Do It

Self-sabotage is a form of protection. Strange as it sounds, your mind might actually believe it’s keeping you safe. If your subconscious associates growth with discomfort or pain (based on past experience), it will throw up roadblocks. Fast.

It might sound like:

• “If I don’t try, I can’t fail.”

• “If I keep myself small, I won’t be disappointed.”

The result? You stay stuck—frustrated, exhausted, and caught in a cycle of starting and stopping, getting close and pulling away.

How to Break the Cycle

The first step is awareness. Start noticing your patterns. Where do you always fall off track? What do you tell yourself in those moments?

The next step? Get support.

This work isn’t about forcing change through willpower. It’s about going deeper—understanding the beliefs and emotions that are driving your behaviour and gently rewiring them.

That’s where hypnotherapy and psychotherapy come in. Working together, we can identify the root of your self-sabotage, release the old stories, and create space for a new way of being—one that aligns with who you actually are, not who you’ve been told to be.

Time Just for You

Sessions are available from 30-minute tasters to longer 1-hour (or more) deep dives—tailored to what you need. No pressure. No judgment. Just space to understand yourself and make lasting change.

Curious? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation call. Let’s explore how we can unlock these patterns and free you from the loops that are keeping you stuck.