Let’s talk about that moment.
You’ve got ONE big, important thing to do.
Just one.
And instead of doing it, suddenly you’re:
Deep cleaning your junk drawer
Rewriting your business name for the 43rd time
Watching YouTube videos about how to build a chicken coop (you don’t even own chickens)
Sound familiar?
Yeah. That’s not productivity.
That’s your nervous system doing the cha-cha slide around your actual progress.
Because here’s the deal:
High-achieving women don’t fail because they’re lazy. They sabotage because they’re terrified of what happens when it works.
Yep. I said it.
What Self-Sabotage Actually Looks Like
It’s not always dramatic.
It’s not quitting your job and moving to Bali with no plan (though if that’s you—hey, live your truth).
It’s often way sneakier:
Deciding you need a new Canva template before you launch
Re-recording the same voice note 7 times before hitting send
Creating a whole new offer instead of finishing the one you started
Starting 6 projects at once because “they’re all important”
Saying yes to lunch with someone who drains you (on your only free day)
Telling yourself you’ll “feel more ready next week”
You don’t need a new planner, queen.
You need a moment of brutal honesty.
Why We Do It (and Why You’re Not Broken)
Let’s break it down with love and a little science:
Your brain is wired for familiarity, not success.
So even though you consciously want growth, your subconscious thinks:
“Uh-oh. If we grow, we get visible.
If we’re visible, we might get judged.
If we’re judged, we might get rejected.
Let’s avoid that and alphabetize our spice rack instead.”
See?
It’s not sabotage because you’re weak.
It’s sabotage because your brain’s still operating off outdated safety settings.
The Catch-It System: How to Know You’re Doing It
Here’s how to know when you’ve slipped into sabotage disguised as strategy:
1. You’re making your to-do list longer instead of shorter.
Spoiler: If your “urgent task” today is reorganizing your Google Drive… you’re stalling.
2. You suddenly care a lot about a detail that was irrelevant last week.
If your brain goes from “I’m launching a course” to “What’s my brand voice archetype again?”—you’re dodging the discomfort of done.
3. You’re doing “research” instead of execution.
We love a smart woman. But at a certain point, more reading = more hiding.
4. You feel anxious when things start working.
If every time momentum hits, you hit pause to “reevaluate”? Baby, that’s fear of expansion, not confusion.
What to Do Instead (Without Shame-Whipping Yourself Into Productivity)
This is where we catch it. Mid-spin. Mid-spiral. Mid-trying-to-redesign-your-whole-website-at-2am.
Step 1: Say it out loud.
“Ohhh. This is the part where I stall.”
Calling it out cuts the trance. It’s like flipping the light switch in a haunted house—now you see what’s real.
Step 2: Put your hand on your heart.
Yeah, I’m serious.
This tells your nervous system:
“Hey love, we’re not in danger. We’re just doing the scary thing we’ve never done before.”
Step 3: Ask yourself this one question:
“What’s the ONE thing that would actually move this forward right now?”
Then do just that one thing.
Not five. Not three. Not one plus a photoshoot and a Pinterest board.
Just one.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Because every time you catch the sabotage mid-pattern?
You build trust with yourself.
And self-trust?
That’s the currency of unstoppable women.
You don’t need more motivation.
You don’t need another mindset hack.
You need to become a woman who sees herself mid-pattern and chooses not to shrink.
Not tomorrow. Not when Mercury’s out of retrograde.
Now.
Your Assignment (Because Awareness Is Power—But Action Is Queen)
1. Identify Your Signature Sabotage Move:
Be radically honest. Do you organize your desktop? Rewatch training videos? Ghost your to-do list and deep-dive into Canva? Write it down.
2. Catch It in Real Time:
Next time it flares up, pause and say:
“Ohh, this is the pattern. This is where I used to freeze. But I don’t do that anymore.”
Then immediately name one small, brave action you can take instead. Even if it’s just opening the damn file.
3. Celebrate the Catch:
Catching it is the breakthrough.
Write it down. Say it out loud. Text your best friend. Log the win.
Because repetition rewires faster than reflection.
Now, tag me @poweredbyjess on all socials and spill the tea. I want to hear about those breakthrough moments, because darling, we are not here to play small—we’re here to SLAY.
If you haven’t already, hit that follow button and stay tuned for more sass, wisdom, and strategies to live your boldest, fiercest life. Because, we’re just getting started, and trust me—you do NOT want to miss what’s coming next! 👑✨ #BreakThosePatterns #BossMoves
