"Overcoming Self-Sabotage: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back in Your Flying Training"

Self-sabotage is the act of unconsciously undermining one's own success and goals. It can manifest in various ways, such as procrastination, negative self-talk, and setting unrealistic expectations. In the context of personal flying training, self-sabotage can manifest as self-doubt, fear of failure, and a lack of confidence in one's abilities.

As a student pilot, it can be easy to become your own worst critic. The journey to becoming a pilot is not easy and it is filled with challenges and obstacles. It is natural to doubt yourself and question whether you are good enough to achieve your goals. However, this self-doubt can lead to self-sabotage, making it difficult to overcome and move forward.

One of the biggest challenges in overcoming self-sabotage is the tendency to focus on failures and mistakes, rather than successes and accomplishments.

This negative self assumption can make it difficult for us to see ourselves as a successful individual, despite the fact that others see us as such. It can be easy to get stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, where the more we doubt ourselves, the more we sabotage our own progress.

To overcome self-sabotage, it is important to become aware of negative self-talk and to challenge it. Instead of focusing on failures and mistakes, try to focus on the progress you have made and the successes you have achieved. It is also important to set realistic expectations for yourself and to remember that progress takes time. Try changing the way you think and speak about yourself.

Negative statements:

• "I'll never be good enough to become a pilot."

• "I always make mistakes when flying, I'm not cut out for this."

• "I'll never pass my flight test, I'm just not capable."

• "I'll never be able to afford the cost of flight training, it's too expensive."

• "I'm too old/young to start flight training, it's too late/early for me."

Positive statements:

• "I am capable of becoming a pilot, I am willing to put in the work."

• "Making mistakes is a natural part of learning, I will learn from them and improve."

• "I can pass my flight test, I will prepare well and stay positive."

• "I will find a way to afford flight training, it's worth the investment in my future."

• "I'm the perfect age to start flight training, it's never too late/early to chase your dreams."

Another important step in overcoming self-sabotage is to surround yourself with positive and supportive people. Find your Tribe. The people around you can play a big role in shaping your self-perception and can help you to see yourself in a more positive light.

Ultimately, overcoming self-sabotage is a journey and it takes time, effort, and patience. It requires a shift in mindset and a change in perspective. By becoming aware of negative self-talk and challenging it, setting realistic expectations and surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people, we can learn to stop sabotaging ourselves and start achieving our goals.

In my personal experience, I have learned that self-sabotage is not something that just disappears overnight, but it is something that requires constant effort and attention. By becoming aware of my negative self-talk, focusing on my successes, setting realistic expectations and surrounding myself with positive and supportive people, I have been able to overcome self-doubt and move forward towards achieving my goals.