You’ve probably had moments where you thought…
“I’ll do it when I feel more confident.”
“I just need to feel ready.”
“I’m not quite there yet.”
It’s a common mindset, especially for fitness and wellbeing business owners who care deeply about getting it right. But confidence doesn’t always come first. Sometimes we have to take action to reconnect with our confidence.
One challenge I see in many fitness and wellbeing business owners is low confidence and the way it slowly chips away at your progress without you even noticing.
It doesn’t always shout.
Sometimes it whispers
It sounds like:
“I’ll launch it later.”
“I need to tweak it a bit more.”
“I don’t want to come across too pushy.”
These thoughts feel safe in the moment but over time, they keep you stuck in cycles of hesitation and overthinking, quietly steering your business off track and sabotaging your success.
The word sounds dramatic, but really, self-sabotage often shows up in small, everyday choices:
- Putting off marketing because you feel like you’re not quite good enough yet.
- Undercharging or overdelivering, hoping to prove your worth.
- Saying yes to clients who drain you, because saying no feels uncomfortable.
- Avoiding sales conversations because rejection feels personal.
These choices aren’t failures,they’re just patterns and like any pattern, they can be unpicked and replaced.
At the root of it is low confidence and if it’s left to rot it will eat away at your self worth.
When you don’t fully believe in your value, your skills, or your ability to succeed, your brain starts finding ways to stay safe.
That’s normal. It’s what brains do.
But staying safe often means staying small. It feels safer not to launch, to keep your prices low or to hold back on that new offer. Short-term comfort can lead to long-term disappointment if left unchecked.
To spot the signs early awareness is key. Look out for these common signs of self-sabotage:
- Overthinking decisions that should be simple.
- Constantly “tweaking” instead of sharing or selling.
- Delaying visibility because you fear judgement.
- Burning out by doing too much for too little return.
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Here are a few gentle ways to shift out of self-sabotage and move forward with confidence:
- Build small moments of belief into your day
You don’t need to overhaul your mindset overnight. Try a five-minute check-in: What am I proud of today? What action would future-me be glad I took? - Take the next small step, even if it’s messy
Waiting to feel completely ready can keep you stuck. The next step doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to happen. - Reflect with curiosity, not criticism
If something didn’t go as planned, ask: What did I learn? What might I do differently next time? - Don’t go it alone
Sometimes it’s hard to spot your own patterns. Having support, whether through a coach, community or accountability partner, makes a huge difference.
Self-sabotage isn’t a flaw in your character. It’s a sign that something underneath needs attention, but confidence grows when you start noticing the patterns, giving yourself compassion, and choosing a new response, one small step at a time.
Want to feel more confident taking action in your business?
If you’re ready to break free from unhelpful patterns and start moving forward with more clarity and self-trust, let’s have a conversation. Email me on philippa@holdmyhandcoaching.com to find out how we can work together. We’ll look at what’s getting in the way and make a plan that helps you show up with confidence, so your business can move in the direction you want it to.
Until next time,
Best wishes
Philippa x