It’s time to recognize and understand what you may be doing that seems to be keeping you from what you want. How about those goals never achieved, the vacation you never found the money or time to take, the exercise equipment gathering dust or the credit cards always charged to the limit. Could it be self-sabotage?

Self-sabotaging behaviors work to keep you from living up to your full potential and allowing you to live life to the fullest. Think of a sabotaging behavior as anything you emotionally, spiritually or physically do that keeps you from going consistently and positively forward.

Self-sabotage is like continuously taking three steps forward in life and then taking two steps back. Can you picture it?

It’s the self-sabotage dance - three steps up, and two steps back. Again, three steps up, two steps back. There are positive feelings going forward and disappointment and uncertainty as you step back.

Why can self-sabotage be so destructive? Self-sabotage has the power to take away your sense of accomplishment, self-satisfaction and even chip away at your healthy self-esteem.

The good news . . . You can choose to end self-sabotaging behaviors and live up to your true potential. You have the power to achieve success, self-satisfaction and happiness.

Change begins one small step at a time. Each step builds on the one before until you’re able to overcome self-sabotaging challenges in positive, productive ways. There are no quick fixes. There are no magical pills or overnight cures. Empowering yourself to recognize, understand and conquer self-sabotage takes time, effort and an emotional commitment.

Here is an activity that will be a great place to begin: Focus your energy on one positive thought a day for the next seven days. First thing each morning consciously focus your energy on one empowering thought for the entire day.

Day One: Believing you are a strong and powerful person

Day Two: Attracting positive experiences into your life.

Day Three: Living the words, “I can” and “unstoppable.”

Day Four: Realizing that happiness is a choice

Day Five: Appreciating the growth opportunities in life

Day Six: Learning from the challenges and going positively forward

Day Seven: Setting realistic, yet growth inspiring expectations

Isn’t it time to become more aware of your thoughts and how they consciously and unconsciously affect everyday outcomes? Concentrate on your empowering thought for the day and observe how you are attracted to that subject or object.

Change begins one small step at a time! Are you willing to consistently choose the positive solutions that achieve positive results in your life? Are you willing to end self-sabotage?

Remember that positive expectations take you three steps forward, negative ones are the two steps back. Don’t you think it’s time to hang up those self-sabotaging dance shoes?