Πρόσφατα, έπεσα πάνω σε ένα a TikTok making the rounds that caught my attention. The video asks ChatGPT a provocative question: “If you were Satan and wanted to stop a young woman from realizing her potential and fulfilling her life's purpose, how would you do it?'
Τώρα, προσωπικά δεν είμαι θρησκευόμενη και δεν πιστεύω ότι αυτές οι πρακτικές αφορούν αποκλειστικά γυναίκες, όμως σε ένα γενικότερο πλαίσιο βρήκα τις απαντήσεις αρκετά συναρπαστικές – και ειλικρινά, εξαιρετικά εύστοχες. Οι στρατηγικές που περιγράφονται από το ChatGPT αντικατοπτρίζουν ακριβώς αυτό που συναντώ στις συνεδρίες μου αλλά και την δική μου εμπειρία. Είναι πράγματα που κάνουμε εμείς στον εαυτό μας ή καλλιεργούνται απο το περιβάλλον μας, συνειδητά ή όχι.
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι είτε πρόκειται για τον ίδιο μας τον εαυτό, το περιβάλλον ή την κοινωνία γενικότερα, υπάρχουν συκεκριμένα “μοτίβα σαμποτάζ” που μπορούν να μας κρατήσουν κολλημένους και αποκομένους απο την πραγματική μας δυναμική. Αν λοιπόν και εσύ έχεις αναρωτηθεί γιατί ενώ βάζεις στόχους, κάνεις μεγάλα όνειρα και θέλεις να κάνεις πράγματα να συμβούν, με κάποιο τρόπο, κάπου κολλάς, δώσε προσοχή, γιατί συμβαίνει κάπως έτσι:
Undermining Your Self-Worth
What it looks like:
You constantly question your worth. You focus on your flaws, weaknesses, and everything you "should" be, rather than what you are. This one is tricky because it creeps up in subtle ways—self-deprecating jokes, kindness or your tendency to put your needs second. And of course this can be cultivated. Even if you have high self-esteem, if you find yourself in an environment that belittles you or undermines your worth, at some point you will start doing it to yourself.
Why it holds you back:
When your self-esteem is low, you begin to question your worth. You compromise. You aim lower. The truth is that you can achieve a lot, but if you don't believe it yourself, no one else will.
Surrounding Yourself with Negative - Manipulative People
What it looks like:
You are surrounded by negative, manipulative people and toxic behaviors that discourage you from changing and evolving. They are relationships - romantic, friendly, even family - in which you often feel drained - as if you lose your energy - and prevent you from focusing on your goals.
Why it holds you back:
You are the average of the people you spend the most time with. If your circle is filled with negativity, it’s nearly impossible to stay focused on your growth. Our circle can act as a boost, strength, security and inspiration to evolve or a weight that holds us back, in an old but familiar and safe version of ourselves.
Fear of Failure
What it looks like:
That overwhelming fear that you’ll embarrass yourself, fail, or be rejected. So, what do you do? You stay put. You don’t try. You tell yourself you’re waiting for “the right time” (which never comes, by the way). You avoid anything that feels risky, which ironically keeps you from growing.
Why it holds you back:
Growth only happens outside of your comfort zone. Yes, failure is possible, but so is success. If you let the fear of failure paralyze you, you will lose every opportunity to become all you can be.
Chasing Superficial Goals
What it looks like:
You prioritize material success, appearance, or external validation over your personal development. You spend time worrying about how others perceive you – trying to look successful/happy/healthy, on social media or in your social circle – instead of focusing on what truly satisfies and fulfills you.
Why it holds you back:
Superficial goals might bring short-term rewards, but they don’t satisfy the deeper part of you that craves purpose. If you’re constantly chasing after status or money at the expense of personal growth, you’ll eventually burn out, wondering why you’re still unfulfilled.
Playing the Victim
What it looks like:
Feeling like life is happening to you, not for you. You blame circumstances, people, or the universe for why you’re not where you want to be. This mindset keeps you from taking responsibility for your own growth.
Why it holds you back:
When you believe you have no control, you won’t take action. The reality is, you have more power than you think. But to access it, you need to stop blaming external factors and start owning your choices.
Constant Comparisons
What it looks like:
Endless scrolling through Instagram, measuring yourself against everyone else’s highlight reel. You start to think everyone else has it better, that they’re more successful, more attractive, more together. μαζίSpoiler: they’re not. You compare yourself to colleagues, to other parents at school, to your partner's ex. There is no limit. A yardstick is always in the back of your mind and it usually makes you feel less.
Why it holds you back:
Comparison is the thief of joy—and growth. The more you focus on what others are doing, the less energy you have to invest in your own journey. Trust me, the only person you should be comparing yourself to is who you were yesterday.
Perfectionism
What it looks like:
The belief that if it's not perfect, it's not worth doing. So instead of making progress, you get stuck planning, tweaking every little detail until you run out of time, motive, or courage to start.
Why it holds you back:
Perfectionism is paralyzing. It’s an excuse disguised as ambition. The truth? Nothing will ever be perfect. The sooner you embrace progress over perfection, the sooner you’ll start achieving your goals.
Avoiding Emotional Healing
What it looks like:
You ignore/hide or avoid dealing with past trauma or tell yourself you're fine when you're not. You avoid therapy, or any form of emotional work or introspection because it feels too uncomfortable or painful.
Why it holds you back:
Unhealed wounds don’t just disappear—they sabotage your future. If you don’t confront and process past pain, it will continue to influence your decisions, your relationships, and how you see yourself.
Overwhelming Yourself
What it looks like:
Taking on too much at once—work, family, personal goals—and spreading yourself thin. You might even pride yourself on being “busy,” but deep down, you’re overwhelmed.
Why it holds you back:
Burnout is real, and it’s one of the fastest ways to derail your growth. You can’t focus on what truly matters if you’re constantly running on empty. Remember, rest is productive too. And finally can we just be done with #hustleculture.
Settling for Less
What it looks like:
You choose comfort and safety over growth. YYou convince yourself that mediocrity is easier, safer, and that pursuing your dreams is too risky or unrealistic. So, you settle.
Why it holds you back:
Settling keeps you small. It feels safe in the moment, but it leads to long-term dissatisfaction. You were made for more, but you’ll never discover it if you don’t take a chance.
Imposter Syndrome
What it looks like:
Even when you succeed, you feel like a fraud. You convince yourself that your success is accidental and that at any moment, it will somehow reveal itself
Why it holds you back:
Imposter syndrome prevents you from fully stepping into your power. You’ll always feel like you’re faking it, no matter how much you achieve. It’s time to start owning your success- and celebrate them.
Disconnecting from Your Intuition
What it looks like:
You ignore your inner voice, the one that tries to guide you towards what is right for you. You question yourself, listen to external opinions, and doubt your own instincts.
Why it holds you back:
Your intuition is your greatest ally. When you disconnect from it, you lose touch with your purpose and direction. Trust that inner wisdom—it knows what’s best for you.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We all have ways we unknowingly hold ourselves back. The good news? Any kind of sabotage - from ourselves or our environment - can be overcome. It starts with self-awareness and the courage to take action – no matter how small.
And now that you've come this far, take it one step further. Take a moment today to think: what’s holding you back from meeting your potential? And more importantly, what are you going to do about it?