English Reader

One of the biggest obstacles on the road to success is self sabotage.

Self sabotage occurs when you know what you want to achieve but for some reason, you act in a way that moves you away from your goal instead of towards it.

A common example is trying to follow a diet and then sabotaging your efforts by eating too much chocolate, cake, ice cream etc.

The secret to eliminating self sabotage is to understand this important fact:

“Self sabotage does not occur because you are weak. It occurs because your dream is weak”

Self sabotage occurs when a short term craving overrides your long term desire to achieve your dream.

Imagine that you are standing between two large magnets. On one side is your dream, and on the other is a temptation that leads to self sabotage.

In order to resist the attraction of the short term temptation and avoid self sabotage, you need to increase the pulling power of your dream.

Here are 10 ways to strengthen your dream in order to combat self sabotage:

(1) Place a picture of your dream on the ceiling above your bed so that you see it every morning and every evening before you go to sleep.

(2) Place a picture of your dream on the back of your bathroom door.

(3) Carry a picture of your dream in your wallet or purse.

(4) Place a picture of your dream wherever you are most likely to be tempted. For example, place a picture of your dress on the fridge door.

(5) Use the power of public pressure and tell people about your dream. The more you talk about it to others, the stronger your dream becomes.

(6) Hook up with a 'dream buddy' - Team up with someone who shares your dream and make a commitment to each other to make your dream a reality.

(7) Join a support group - Find an online support group and work with others to create an encouraging and supportive atmosphere.

(8) Keep a journal - Record your experiences in a journal or a blog. The more you write, the stronger your dream becomes.

(9) Associate your dream with a song that you find particularly inspirational. When you are tempted to give in to temptation, listen to your song to rekindle your passion for your dream.

(10) When you're face-to-face with temptation, ask yourself what you really want. For example, "What do I want more, this cake or to fit into my new dress?"

As you can see, all these techniques are ways to increase your level of focus on your desired outcome. The more you focus on your dream, the stronger it becomes. And the stronger the pull of your dream, the less likely you'll be to succumb to self sabotage.

Action Steps:

(1) Understand that self sabotage occurs not because you are weak, but rather, because your dream is weak.

(2) Take action and use the techniques listed above to strengthen the pulling power of your dream in order to avoid self sabotage.