As a transpersonal hypnotherapist, I’ve helped many people who believed they were stuck in cycles of self-sabotage. They saw their actions as counterproductive, inexplicable roadblocks that were preventing them from achieving happiness or success. However, when we start to dig a little deeper into our true being, it becomes more and more apparent that there is no such thing as self-sabotage — but merely misunderstood methods and strategies for seeking happiness and evading suffering.
Self-Sabotage: A Misunderstood Quest for Happiness
Eastern philosophies like Buddhism emphasize that all beings naturally gravitate towards happiness and away from suffering. In fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentions this all the time in his public teachings.
This universal truth extends to all our actions. Even behaviors perceived as ‘self-sabotage’ are, at their core, misguided attempts to achieve happiness or avoid pain.
The concept of ‘original purity’, foundational to many Eastern spiritual traditions, holds that our fundamental nature is inherently good and pure. This is the polar opposite of the western theistic story that we “fell” from Grace and are now fundamentally stained. However, our original purity can become obscured by layers of negative beliefs, unprocessed emotions, and past traumas.
Our so-called ‘self-sabotaging’ behaviors often arise from this confusion. For example, procrastination — a common form of self-sabotage — could be a means of avoiding fear of failure. Overeating might be an attempt to comfort ourselves or to fill an emotional void. On the surface, these behaviors may seem counterproductive – even harmful – but they serve a purpose: they provide temporary relief, a short-term escape from discomfort.
Unraveling The Layers Of Self-Sabotage With Transpersonal Hypnotherapy
This is where transpersonal hypnotherapy steps in. It offers one possible path to uncover and understand these obscured layers. By guiding people into a state of deep relaxation and focused awareness, transpersonal hypnotherapy provides access to the subconscious mind — where these hidden beliefs, emotions, and experiences ‘reside’.
In this deep state, you can gain insights into the true motivations behind your actions. You can begin to understand that what seemed like self-sabotage was really your subconscious mind’s attempt to protect you from perceived threats or discomfort.
Shifting Our Perception
Here lies the transformative power of this understanding: seeing ‘self-sabotage’ not as an enemy, but as a signpost guiding you towards areas in need of healing and growth. Instead of berating yourself for these actions, you can now approach them with curiosity and compassion, recognizing the intention behind them — your innate drive for ultimate happiness and wellbeing.
Once this shift in perception takes place, you can start to reassess and replace these behaviors. You can then find healthier methods to achieve comfort, to confront fear, to fill your emotional voids. Gradually, you can peel away the layers obscuring your ‘original purity’, your true essence, your True Self, and tap into your inherent potential for happiness and peace.
So, next time you catch yourself in a cycle of perceived ‘self-sabotage’, remember: there’s no such thing. These are not purposeless, destructive behaviors, but signals from your subconscious, indicating areas ripe for growth and healing. They are expressions of your inherent quest for happiness and avoidance of suffering.
Embrace these signals. Understand them. Grow from them. With guidance, patience, and compassion, you can navigate through these behaviors to uncover your original purity, transforming your journey from one of self-perceived sabotage to self-discovery and empowerment. Remember, in every moment, you are striving for happiness in the best way you know how — and there’s nothing self-sabotaging about that.
So, are you ready to start on your journey to empowerment? If you believe you might benefit from transpersonal hypnotherapy, schedule a free strategy-coaching call with me. During that time, I’ll go into more detail about what I do, how hypnosis works, and will then let you know if I’m confident I can help you.
