Stop Self-Sabotage

Stop Self-Sabotage: Six Steps to Unlock Your True Motivation, Harness Your Willpower, and Get Out of Your Own Way by Judy Ho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this hoping to gain even more insight into some of my coaching clients, though self-sabotage certainly isn't restricted to behaviors that surround our health.

According to Ho, we all have relevant experiences from our childhood that may impact our adult selves ability to thrive and grow.

She explains that we are all in a perpetual struggle to balance perceived reward with perceived threat, and this explains why we sometimes choose the devil we know over a chance to fulfill our dreams because as bad as it might be it is certainly better than taking a chance on the big, bad, scary unknown.

The book is packed with exercises. Ho is a huge fan of journaling. (I personally hate journaling.) That said, even if you don't choose to do the exercises as suggested there is still a lot here worth contemplating.

Ironically, starting my health and wellness coaching business as opposed to working for someone else required (still requires) me to go outside my comfort zone and to regularly confront my own saboteurs. I am the antithesis of a risk taker and hate change and the unknown. I also have a scarcity mentality and struggle even more when there is a financial component to the risk. Furthermore, I think I fear failure and being exposed as a "fake" just as much as the next person. But the more I test my boundaries the easier it gets, and I think that is the point. Ironically, when it comes to my health (diet and exercise) I rule. I'm simply learning how to translate those skills to developing my business and my brand.