How many times have you felt like you were on the verge of a breakthrough at work, only to mess up something you’ve done 100 times before, effectively undermining all of your hard work? When this happens, you might be unconsciously sabotaging yourself—and this behavior is far more common than you think. The triggers for this activity aren’t always obvious, but there’s a reason the term “scared of success” is well-known. One of the main reasons for self-sabotage is rooted in a fear of changing the way we view ourselves. “First and foremost, [self-sabotage is] when humans are making choices, to actually protect themselves against internal feelings about themselves that are painful and they want to avoid,” says psychologist Laura Gallaher, founder and CEO of Gallaher Edge, a leadership and behavioral science consulting firm. “It ends up distorting how they see the world, and it makes them feel less effective in their behavior.” Preventing self-sabotage is all about self-awareness. The more honest and open we are with ourselves—the more accepting we are of who we are—the more we can help quiet the negative self-talk that triggers self-sabotaging behavior. Be mindful of what you’re telling yourself. Your success depends on it.