Why Do I Keep Sabotaging My Own Success?

You set a goal. You work toward it. You're making progress.

Then—without warning—you do something that completely derails everything. You procrastinate. You pick a fight. You make a "careless mistake" that costs you the opportunity.

And you think, "Why did I do that? I wanted this."

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Millions of people across South Africa—from Johannesburg to Cape Town to Durban—struggle with self-sabotage. They work hard, they have talent, they have opportunities… but something inside them keeps pulling them back.

The Pattern You Can't Break

Self-sabotage shows up in different ways for different people:

You're about to close a big deal at work, then you "forget" to follow up with the client.

You're losing weight and feeling great, then you binge eat and quit the gym.

You meet someone wonderful who treats you well, then you push them away or pick fights over nothing.

You're building a business that's starting to take off, then you stop marketing or miss important deadlines.

Every time, you tell yourself it won't happen again. Every time, it does.

It's Not Weakness—It's Your Reactive Mind

Here's what most people don't understand: self-sabotage isn't a character flaw. It's not laziness, fear of success, or "just who you are."

It's your reactive mind protecting you from something it thinks is dangerous.

Your reactive mind is the part of your mind that stores every painful, traumatic, or unconscious experience you've ever had. These experiences are called engrams.

When you were younger, maybe success was followed by punishment. Maybe your parents got jealous when you did well. Maybe you were bullied for standing out. Maybe someone you loved left right when things were going great.

Your reactive mind recorded all of that pain. And now, whenever you get close to success, it sees danger. It thinks, "Success = pain." So it forces you to sabotage yourself to "protect" you.

You don't consciously think this. You just suddenly feel anxious, distracted, or compelled to do something destructive.

The South African Experience

In South Africa, many of us carry engrams from:

Economic instability: "Things were going well, then we lost everything."

Family dynamics: "When I succeeded, my family resented me or expected me to support everyone."

Systemic oppression: "Standing out or doing well made me a target."

Trauma and loss: "Every time I had something good, it was taken away."

These experiences create powerful engrams that drive self-sabotage for years—even decades—after the original event.

How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself

The solution isn't willpower. It isn't positive thinking. It isn't "just believing in yourself."

The solution is finding and erasing the engrams that are driving the sabotage.

Dianetics provides the exact process to do this. You locate the painful experiences your reactive mind is reacting to, process them, and erase their power over you.

Once the engram is gone, the self-sabotage stops. Not because you're "trying harder," but because the root cause is gone.

What Happens When You Break Free

Imagine:

Setting a goal and actually achieving it—without mysteriously derailing yourself at the last minute.

Building success without the constant fear that you're going to destroy it.

Finally understanding why you've been holding yourself back—and being free of it.

Living the life you're actually capable of, instead of the life your reactive mind allows you to have.

This isn't a fantasy. Over 20 million people worldwide have used Dianetics to break free from self-sabotage and take control of their lives.

Take the First Step

If you're tired of being your own worst enemy, it's time to take action.

Read the book: Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health explains exactly how self-sabotage works and how to stop it.

Order your copy: Get the book delivered to your door anywhere in South Africa—Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, or anywhere in Mzansi.

Start your journey: Follow the techniques in the book to find and erase the engrams driving your self-sabotage.

You don't have to keep sabotaging yourself. The solution is here. The question is: are you ready to use it?

Order Your Copy Now - R400

Stop letting your reactive mind control your success. Take back your life today.

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About Hubbard Dianetics Foundation South Africa

The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation South Africa is dedicated to making the life-changing technology of Dianetics available to individuals across South Africa. Our mission is to help people overcome mental barriers, resolve past trauma, and achieve their full potential through proven Dianetics techniques developed by <a href="https://www.lronhubbard.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">L. Ron Hubbard</a>.

Get Your Copy of Dianetics Today

Ready to take control of your mind and transform your life? Order your copy of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health for just R400 (including free shipping across South Africa).

Order Your Copy Now →

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References & Further Reading

1. Hubbard, L. Ron. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge Publications, 2007.
2. Research studies on trauma resolution and mental wellness techniques
3. Official Dianetics materials and training resources

Last updated: 19 January 2026

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes and is based on Dianetics principles. Individual results may vary. For personalized guidance, consider consulting with a certified Dianetics practitioner.