How to Stop Self-Sabotage Using the Story You Tell Yourself

Sue Campbell, a mindset coach for writers, reveals the hidden inner narratives that quietly sabotage creative progress — and shows how to rewrite them so you actually sit down and finish your work.

This episode is full of practical, moment-by-moment strategies: how to surface limiting beliefs, neutralize them, and replace them with believable, emotionally motivating alternatives. If you’ve ever told yourself “I’ll write tomorrow,” or “I hate social media,” this episode gives you the tools to change the story and get writing — even if it’s just one sentence.

Who this episode is for: Writers who feel stuck, procrastinate, avoid revision, dread marketing, or want concrete mindset tools to finish a book and grow an author platform.

Why listen:

• Learn why the story you tell yourself matters as much as the story you’re writing.
• Get a simple, repeatable method to expose and loosen limiting beliefs.
• Walk away with tactical moves you can use immediately: journaling prompts, a “one sentence” rule, and mindset reframes for tech and marketing resistance.

Key takeaways:

• Two stories: the book you’re crafting and the story you tell yourself about your ability to write it. The latter often undermines the former.
• Writing your thoughts down reveals hidden beliefs; reading them aloud turns vague resistance into actionable insight.
• Don’t rely on hollow affirmations. Create rewrites that feel believable and carry emotional weight — even if the first step is neutral (“maybe this could help”).
• Use low-friction actions (e.g., one sentence) to defeat procrastination and build identity as someone who shows up.
• With technology and marketing fears, aim for “just enough” competency to move forward rather than perfection.
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Memorable quotes:

• “The story that you tell yourself as a writer is just as important as the story you’re writing.”
• “Your inner saboteur is laying out a binary that you can’t possibly do both at the same time.”
• “One sentence today can become a stepping stone to a much bigger writing session.”

Resources mentioned:

• Sue Campbell / Happily Ever Author Club: storypath.me/hea
• Write Anyway Newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

If this episode moved you, try the one-sentence rule for the next three days and notice how it changes your momentum.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a writer who needs to rewrite their inner story.