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Psychology5 min read

The Psychology of Self-Sabotage, Limiting Beliefs, and An Ancient Mental Model

Exploring the psychology of self-sabotage, how to overcome limiting beliefs, and understanding the ancient concept of higher and lower minds.

1) The Psychology of Self-Sabotage

Ever wondered why you sometimes get in your own way? Building something up then tearing it down? That's self-sabotage.

It's a real psychological phenomenon deeply rooted in our unconscious mind.

Often driven by limiting beliefs and past experiences, it's like having an "anti-self" working against your conscious goals.

Here's the thing: this "anti-self" is often born from childhood experiences or past pain.

It manifests in various ways — blame, walking away from opportunities, negative self-talk, procrastination, and an inability to fulfill goals.

But here's an interesting twist: sometimes, what looks like self-sabotage might actually be your authentic self rebelling against societal expectations.

Are you really sabotaging yourself, or are you just not aligned with what you're pursuing?

For me, it was around the goals I pursued in life. In 2017 I first ventured out to start an online business, purely to get rich and get out of my terrible job at a Chinese restaurant.

I was more motivated by pain to get out vs. for something that deeply resonated with me.

Miraculously, I hit a home run with some financial goals with my first profitable business. Yet, that did not satisfy me. I was still miserable so I went on a long hunt to discover more about myself — strengths, interests, gifts, and so on.

I like to think I have a much better understanding of my internal landscape nowadays. However, I still believe there's a lot more to learn about my self and how my future path will unfold.

As Joseph Campbell advises: "Follow your bliss."

My inclination tells me to head in the current direction I am heading now. Therefore, my bets are on that.

Turning back around to self-sabotage, understanding this can be a game-changer. By recognizing the signs and exploring the root causes, you can start to dismantle these self-defeating patterns.

The takeaway?

Self-awareness is your superpower here.

Pay attention to your behaviors, especially when you're close to achieving something important.

Are you unconsciously pulling back? If so, it might be time to have a heart-to-heart with your inner chaos.

2) Busting Limiting Beliefs (It's all in your mind!)

Beliefs are actually decisions.

We chose to believe them.

We can choose to also change them.

Research has shown that our beliefs, particularly about our own capabilities and intelligence, have a profound impact on our performance and experiences. Some findings include:

Our beliefs about our abilities (what psychologists call "self-efficacy") affect how we approach tasks and handle obstacles. High self-efficacy is linked to greater effort and resilience, while low self-efficacy can lead to avoidance and reduced performance.

Here's where it gets really interesting: these beliefs can actually change our brain activity.

Neuroscience research has found that high self-efficacy is associated with greater activation in the brain's reward processing regions. In other words, people who strive to achieve are more motivated to do so because they know there's a reward coming for their effort.

So, what can you do? Start by challenging your limiting beliefs.

When you catch yourself thinking "I can't do this," try reframing it as "I can't do this yet."

Following, find proof for your new statements. Associate it with past evidence of you accomplishing something difficult. The more "rocks" you can stack in your favor, the greater the belief and self-esteem you can build around yourself.

These beliefs aren't static. They're moldable.

Beliefs can either make or break you.

Look more into them.

3) The Higher And Lower Minds

Ancient philosophy brings us an intriguing concept: the idea of higher and lower minds within us.

Think of it as a constant tug-of-war between our rational and irrational selves.

The higher mind, driven by reason, leads us towards personal growth, spiritual growth, and wisdom. It's the part of us that seeks understanding and strives for personal development.

On the flip side, the lower mind is ruled by sensations and desires. It's focused on the physical world and immediate gratification.

The ancient philosophers all viewed as reason being the principle of our soul, while sensation being the principle of the body.

One seeks truth. That which is intelligible. That which is unmovable.

While the other sought that which is tangible, changeable, or only pleasurable in the near-term.

In hindsight, it appears as if these sages discovered a simple mental model to classify two types of thinking:

Though much has changed with the entire human endeavor over the centuries, one thing for certain still remains true: objective truth.

Now while it's difficult to create a shared reality since what we often do is imprint our own perceptions, beliefs, and paradigms onto what ought to be truth. It's still possible to discover some level of truth in anything — yourself, a debate, a domain of knowledge, science, or whatever.

Next time you're in a critical position I encourage you to ask yourself: "From what mind am I thinking?"

This can help potentially avoid a fatal or irreversible decision.

When in doubt, if you change your mental state you change your thinking.

It starts with awareness.

Thanks for reading!

Stay posted.