How I Stopped Self-Sabotaging and Started Making Money Selling Digital Products

Honestly, self-sabotage is the worst. Half the time, you don’t even realize you’re doing it. You tell yourself you want to succeed, but then you make excuses, procrastinate, or stay stuck in the same cycle. For me, it was fear—fear of failure, fear of change, and even fear of actually getting what I wanted. It’s crazy how our own minds can hold us back.

I wasted so much time overthinking ways to make money online instead of actually taking action. I would start something, second-guess myself, and quit before seeing results. But the moment I stopped overcomplicating things and just focused on one simple way to make money, everything changed. That’s when I discovered selling digital products—and it’s now my favorite way to earn online.

How I Stopped Self-Sabotaging and Took Action

1. Recognizing My Own Patterns

I had to be honest with myself. I was procrastinating, doubting my skills, and making excuses about why I couldn’t start. Once I noticed how often I was holding myself back, I knew I had to change.

2. Finding the Right Product to Sell

Instead of guessing what would sell, I used the book “Choose the Right Product” to find trending digital products that were already in demand. This saved me so much time because I didn’t have to do endless research—I just picked a product from the list and moved forward.

3. Creating My First Digital Product

I didn’t have to be an expert or start from scratch. I used Canva to design my product—whether it was an e-book, planner, or social media template—and within a few hours, I had something ready to sell. No overthinking, just action.

4. Selling Without Stress

I didn’t want to spend hours posting on social media every day, so I focused on Pinterest marketing. Pinterest allows my products to get discovered over and over again without me constantly having to promote them. It became my passive traffic source and took the pressure off daily content creation.

How You Can Do It Too

If you struggle with overthinking or self-sabotage, here’s what helped me:

• Find a proven method – Instead of starting from zero, use “Choose the Right Product” to pick a trending digital product or a high-paying affiliate program.
• Take small steps – Create your first product in Canva, list it on Etsy, Gumroad, or your website, and start selling.
• Automate where possible – Use Pinterest or paid ads to get consistent traffic without relying on daily posting.
• Don’t wait for the perfect moment – Just start. You’ll figure things out as you go.

How to Stop Self-Sabotage Step by Step

1. Recognize the Patterns – Pay attention to how you hold yourself back. Are you procrastinating, doubting yourself, or making excuses? Awareness is the first step.
2. Identify the Root Cause – Ask yourself why you’re self-sabotaging. Is it fear of failure? Fear of success? Low self-worth? Understanding the cause helps you address it.
3. Challenge Negative Thoughts – When you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t do this” or “I’m not good enough,” replace those thoughts with positive thoughts like, “I am capable” or “I will succeed.”
4. Break Tasks into Small Steps – Overwhelm leads to avoidance. Instead of focusing on the big picture, break your goals into small, manageable steps to make progress easier.
5. Take Action, Even When It’s Uncomfortable – Fear and doubt will always try to stop you, but taking small, consistent actions will build confidence and momentum.
6. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection – Stop waiting for the “perfect” moment or outcome. Acknowledge every small win along the way to keep yourself motivated.
7. Create a Supportive Environment – Surround yourself with people who uplift you, encourage your growth, and hold you accountable. Distance yourself from negativity.
8. Develop Self-Compassion – You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. Instead of being harsh on yourself, learn from mistakes and keep going.
9. Replace Bad Habits with Good Ones – If self-sabotage shows up as procrastination, distractions, or unhealthy routines, swap them for habits that support your success.
10. Stay Consistent and Keep Pushing Forward – Growth takes time. The key is to keep going, even when things get tough. The more you practice, the less power self-sabotage will have over you.