Self-sabotage

Published on July 20th, 2020

The addict knows (logically) that they may be one dose away from death.

The gambler knows (logically) that they are one bet away from broke.

The smoker knows (logically) that they are one cigarette away from cancer.

It’s not for lack of intelligence that humans do stupid things. We know better. A person with diabetes knows that they shouldn’t be slamming down 7-Eleven Big Gulps. A person trying to get out of debt should not go out and lease a brand new car.

And yet all of humanity battles with self-sabotage as a disease to different degrees. We didn’t take the chance to get up on stage. We listened to that helpful friend or parent talk us out of taking that big leap. We rationalized why it all made sense, and yet a little part of us always knows we are bull shitting ourselves.

I’ve yet to find a cure-all for this affliction. Sure, everything from therapy to EFT to whatever can help. But ultimately, there is never a way to eliminate fear. One can only hope that you muster a unit of courage more than the fear such that you keep stepping forward despite the sheer terror and discomfort.

We all know better.

We all know what to do.

The trick is tricking the emotional part of our being into believing our brains. It’s much easier said than done.

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About Rick Manelius

Quick Stats: CXO of Atomic Form. Graduated from MIT in '03 (BS) and '09 (PhD). Life hacker and peak performance enthusiast. This blog is my experiment in creative writing, self-expression, and sharing what I've learned along my journey. For more information, read my full bio here or contact me.