Why Do We Unconsciously Self-Sabotage Ourselves?

I am constantly derailing my own success. Weight loss? Yep. New diet? Why bother when pizza tastes so good? Working out? I'm just so tired today! Quitting smoking? You've gotta go somehow, right? Why do we get in the way of our own success?

I've been working so hard on being mindful, but it feels like I've been backsliding when it comes to EVERYTHING! I had been doing so well without smoking. I was literally smoke-free for MONTHS! Why am I smoking again? Why am I being so self-destructive? And why are iced animal cookies so good?

I mean, I'm even falling behind on getting organized. I have a ginormous Amazon box in my living room full of new containers to help me get organized. I'd like to say it won't be there in a month, but I've been promising myself I'd file my important documents for six months.

What gives? This morning I had the clear question cross my mind: Why am I constantly sabotaging my self-improvement efforts? So, I Googled it when I got to work and this is the first thing that came up and it's from MindTools.com:

One of the key reasons people self-sabotage is a lack of self-esteem. This can have many different causes, but the effects are the same: feelings of worthlessness, the belief that you don't deserve success, and even self-hatred. These deep-seated thoughts and feelings cause negative self-talk, which fuels your fears and self-sabotaging behaviors. Some people self-sabotage because it makes them feel in control of their situations.

Huh? I've never thought of myself as having low self-esteem, but I want to fix this? That's why I didn't stop there. PsychologyToday.com says it's due to one or a combination thereof of faulty thinking, fear of intimacy or rejection, or procrastination and avoidance.

In another article on the subject, PsychologyToday.com says that many people aren't aware of their self-sabotaging behavior. I'm sure we all do this to a degree, but when does it become a problem? PsychologyToday.com says, 'Behavior is said to be self-sabotaging when it creates problems in daily life and interferes with long-standing goals. The most common self-sabotaging behaviors include procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and forms of self-injury such as cutting.'

Procrastinating, comfort eating, and self-injury was what stood out for me. After all, what is smoking if not self-injury? Definitely, something to think about. Worried you may be limiting yourself with self-sabotaging behaviors? Take this online quiz. It was EYE-OPENING! If you found this helpful, I'd love to hear from you!