Am I doing it wrong? For Doctors by Doctors.

24: DOCTORS, do you self-sabotage?

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This episode will help you break the cycle.


In this episode, we talk about all you need to know about your self-sabotage.


The Nature of Self-Sabotage

  • Difficulty Identifying in the Moment: Self-sabotage is often hard to recognize as it happens, requiring hindsight or the help of others to see the patterns.
  • Case Study: The 'Good' Doctor - our example of prioritizing patient care over studying was a form of self-avoidance. She created excuses to protect her sense of self-worth and avoid the risk of failure in her exams.
  • Emotional Drivers: Self-sabotage isn't about deliberately harming yourself. It's about feeling good in the moment, even at the expense of long-term goals. It's choosing the emotionally comfortable option.

    • How Self-Sabotage Manifests

    • Motivational Triad: Humans are wired to seek what feels good, avoid pain, and conserve energy. This drives our choices.
    • Study Avoidance: Procrastination cleaning, feeling incapable when studying, etc., are ways to avoid the discomfort of studying and potential negative thoughts about oneself.
    • Self-Doubt Fuels the Behavior: Thoughts like "I'm not getting this" or "I should be further along" trigger challenging emotions (frustration, disappointment) that hinder learning and focus.

      • Counteracting Self-Sabotage

      • Self-Awareness is Key: Monitor your mind and recognize your emotional states. How do your thoughts make you feel as you approach the task you're trying to avoid?
      • Choose Your Emotional State: Recognize that suboptimal emotional states can interfere with learning and performance. You can choose to study from a calmer, more focused perspective.
      • Compassion vs. Condemnation: Your brain's self-critical thoughts may stem from a desire to protect you from potential failure and a blow to your identity. Understanding this allows for a more productive negotiation with your mind.

        • Benefits of Overcoming Self-Sabotage

        • Transform Failure: If you understand your self-sabotaging tendencies, failure becomes less destructive to your goals and identity. Even if you don't succeed initially, you did work hard, giving less power to self-doubt.
        • Improve Your Experience: Studying and pursuing goals can be more pleasant and effective once you break self-sabotaging patterns. You can feel better while striving for what you want.

          • Additional Tips

          • Don't Confuse Tiredness with Self-Sabotage: Learn to distinguish between needing rest and self-sabotaging avoidance.
          • The Power of a Clean Space: While you don't need a clean environment to study, it can influence your mindset. The key is not letting it become a means of procrastination.
            • ...more
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            Am I doing it wrong? For Doctors by Doctors.By Doctor Becc and Kristeen Barker