EVERY transition in life, whether personal, professional or spiritual, carries with it the possibility of sabotage.
Often, this sabotage is not obvious or external, but comes quietly through habits, thought patterns and misplaced focus.
It is in transitions that we are most vulnerable, between the familiar past and the uncertain future.
In those moments, vital information can slip away, clarity can blur and progress can stall.
Recognising sabotage in its many forms is the first step towards navigating change with strength and purpose.
Transitions demand balance.
Like a car in motion, we must stay aware of more than just the road directly in front of us.
A vehicle moves forward in one direction, yet the driver relies on mirrors to notice what is happening behind and around them.
Without this awareness, small blind spots can become major threats.
The same is true of the human brain.
Each day, it processes countless commands, yet we rarely pay attention to simple, but vital functions such as breathing or blinking.
These examples remind us that while moving forward is necessary, balance and awareness are equally essential.
When life shifts, the question arises: Whose voice rings loudest in your most vulnerable moments? Is it the echo of past failures, the opinions of others or the whisper of your own self-doubt?
Emotional responses are not random; they are shaped by influences, both internal and external, that determine how we interpret experiences and remember events.
These subconscious influences do not remain hidden; they manifest in daily actions and choices.
Left unexamined, they can sabotage progress in subtle ways.
Part of navigating transitions is learning to let go of what no longer serves us.
If we romanticise the past, we risk overlooking the parts of it that must die for us to move forward.
Deadweight, whether in the form of relationships, habits or outdated beliefs, will only slow the journey.
Worse still, self-sabotage can trick us into believing that we are moving, while in reality we are circling without direction.
During times of transition, human nature often seeks approval, acceptance, appreciation and agreement.
These desires are not wrong in themselves, but they can become traps if they override purpose.
If your motivation depends on applause, then your stability will rise and fall with the cheers of others.
You risk missing the deeper call on your life, the call to fulfil a unique purpose that no one else can define.
This idea echoes the wisdom of Matthew 10:14: shake the dust off your feet when you leave behind those who reject you.
The residue of naysayers, if carried forward, breeds self-doubt and chains us to what is already dead.
Shaking off the dust is not about bitterness, but about refusing to be bound by voices that diminish rather than uplift.
Sabotage in transitions comes in two main forms: external and internal.
External sabotage may come from people who discourage, criticise or distract us.
Internal sabotage, however, is often more powerful.
It is the inability to recognise our own potential, the constant replay of past mistakes and the lack of faith or courage to step forward.
Internal sabotage whispers that we are not enough, blinding us to the greatness within.
Clarity, courage and faith are essential antidotes.
When we identify the habits, voices and patterns that hold us back, we strip sabotage of its power.
Transition then becomes not a place of vulnerability, but a space for growth.
By releasing deadweight and refusing to be defined by external applause or internal doubt, we step into forward movement which is true progress, not just motion.
Ultimately, every transition is both a test and an opportunity.
The question is not whether sabotage will appear, but whether we will recognise it for what it is.
By balancing awareness, shaking off residue and aligning with purpose, we ensure that transitions become the birthplace of transformation, not the graveyard of potential.
