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Why are you doing this to yourself?
Something you never knew you needed
Tsion Abate
July 21, 2025
YOUR WEEKLY AFFIRMATION
“I am worthy of success, and I no longer stand in my own way. I release the fears and patterns that keep me stuck. I choose to believe in myself and show up with courage.”
Self-sabotage is knowing exactly what you need to do to improve — and still not doing it. It’s procrastinating. It’s avoiding the one thing you know will make you feel better. It’s waiting until everything’s 100% perfect before you allow yourself to start. And sometimes, it’s doing the opposite of what’s good for you… and not even knowing why.
Sometimes we don’t notice when it crawls up on us, but a lot of the times we intentionally ignore it because it’s easier to stay in our comfort zone than confront the very thing that is standing in the way of us getting everything we ever wanted.
So, in this edition of The Level Up Letter, why we’re diving into why we do this to ourselves and what to do about it.
This Weeks Lesson
Self-sabotage is often rooted in fear. Fear of failing, fear of succeeding, or fear of the unknown. These fears hold us back, making us choose comfort over growth, even when we know deep down that change is what we need.
One of the most common ways of self-sabotage is procrastination. You do it, I do it, everybody does it. It’s that voice that convinces you to wait “just a little longer” or to focus on anything but the important stuff. You know you have to do it, but time after time, we end up choosing comfort, and that keeps us stuck in this cycle of self-sabotage and failure.
Another common way self-sabotage shows up is through negative thinking and negative self-talk. It’s that harsh inner voice that tells you you’re not good enough, that you’ll never succeed, or that you don’t deserve what you want. And when you believe those thoughts, it’s easy to give up before you even really start.
And lastly, giving up. We expect results at the snap of our fingers, and when that doesn’t happen, we quit. This is why many people fail to cultivate the things they truly love, they simply weren’t patient enough to see how far it could take them.
Now that we’ve explored how self-sabotage shows up and why it holds us back, let’s talk about how to break free and move forward.
The first step to this is to become aware of your self-sabotaging habits. I once heard a creator say to be an observer in your life, someone who watches their thoughts and actions without judgment. This way, you can spot the patterns that hold you back and start to understand why you do them.
This will also help you override those behaviors. For example, if you’re struggling with negative self-talk, when you feel those words coming to your mouth, you can instead pause and replace them with a positive or encouraging thought, reminding yourself of your worth and capabilities.
At the end of the day always remember: breaking free from self-sabotage isn’t about being perfect, it’s about making small, intentional choices every day to honor your goals and your worth. You are capable of growth, healing, and transformation. So be patient with yourself, stay committed, and keep showing up for the person you’re becoming. The journey might not be easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.
This Week’s Blog edition
I used to think that being disciplined meant being in grind mode all the time and doing all the things in your to-do list, no matter how drained or exhausted you might be. Being perfect and achieving all your goals but that was far from the truth.
As I started to get burned out, I looked for ways to continue to be disciplined but without the pressure, grind or burden of perfectionism. I found out that being disciplined doesn’t mean doing everything, it means doing the things that matter consistently and sustainably.
Like I said in my previous blog post, “How to plan your week for maximum success”, not every task requires your attention equally, so you have to prioritize and choose what you focus on carefully and effectively.
That’s what real discipline is: not the ability to do everything, but the wisdom and strength to do what truly matters, even when it’s not easy.
Discipline means showing up for yourself, even on the days when motivation is low. It’s choosing long-term growth over short-term comfort. It’s not about forcing yourself through burnout or pushing through just to say you did it. True discipline actually protects you from burnout, because it’s rooted in intention, not pressure.
The more I let go of the unrealistic expectations I placed on myself, the more consistent I became. Discipline, I’ve learned, is less about intensity and more about sustainability.
So, In this edition of my blog, I will be sharing simple ways you can become disciplined without burning yourself out.
Take 5 minutes today to reflect: Where is self-sabotage showing up in your life and what’s one small step you can take to move past it? You can also reply to this email, I’m reading every response.
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