Stop Self-Sabotaging: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

Stop Self-Sabotaging: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

From excellence, actually by Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, & Clay Skipper

March 19, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of self-sabotage and how to overcome it using various frameworks and examples.

Today, we unpack one of the most universal performance problems: getting in your own way. Drawing on the "Self 1 vs. Self 2" framework from The Inner Game of Tennis , neuroscience, and child psychology, we explore why caring too much can be the very thing that tanks your performance — and what to actually do about it. From fourth-grade Turkey trots to Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile, we cover the many forms of self-sabotage (before, during, and the night before the big day), how to be a "good enough parent" to yourself under pressure, and how coaches can help athletes quiet the inner critic without pretending it doesn't exist. Get a free LMNT drink mix pack with any purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/Clay - Subscribe to  The Growth Equation newsletter -  Join The Growth Equation Academy - If you are enjoying "excellence, actually," do us a huge favor: text your favorite episode to three people so they can enjoy it, too. Thanks! iTunes and Apple Podcasts Spotify Android PocketCasts YouTube See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Hosts: Steve Magness, Brad Stulberg, Clay Skipper

Topics covered

  • self-sabotage
  • performance
  • neuroscience
  • child psychology
  • inner critic
  • coaching

Keywords

  • self-sabotage
  • performance problems
  • neuroscience
  • coaching
  • inner critic
  • child psychology
  • The Inner Game of Tennis

Sponsors

LMNT

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Inner Game of Tennis

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