Breaking the Cycle: Self-Sabotage, Mindfulness, and the Power of Manifestation
- Shannon Hurst
- Nov 9, 2025
- 5 min read
It’s funny how often the things that hold us back come not from the outside world, but from within.
Self-sabotage. The quiet, sneaky, familiar voice that tells us we aren’t good enough, that we don’t deserve what we want, that maybe it’s safer to stay small.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately after reading Jennie’s book, Self-Sabotage No More. Her words hit hard, the idea that our unprocessed emotions, filters, and limiting beliefs can shape how we see the world, and more importantly, how we see ourselves. I realized that even when things are going great, there are moments I unintentionally pull myself back. Maybe out of fear. Maybe out of habit. Or maybe because I haven’t yet fully accepted that I deserve all the good that’s coming my way.
That word, deserve has always been a tricky one for me. I can say to anyone else, “You deserve love, success, happiness, and peace,” and mean it with every ounce of my being. But when I turn that same statement inward, it catches in my throat. It’s something I’m actively working on... learning to believe that I too deserve to receive, not just give.
Mindfulness: Finding My Balance in Nature
If you have read my past blogs you know for me, mindfulness begins and ends in nature. There’s something profoundly grounding about stepping into the mountains... the silence, the scent of pine, the crunch of dirt under my boots. I make it a point to get outside at least once a week, no matter how busy life gets. That time reconnects me with what truly matters.
When I’m out there, I’m not replaying yesterday’s mistakes or worrying about tomorrow. I’m present. Whether it’s a still morning paddle with fog dancing across the water or standing on a windy summit with my pup Denali at my side, I feel alive, centred, and whole. Nature strips away all the noise and brings me back to myself.
That’s mindfulness in its purest form... being in the now, allowing yourself to just be. It’s where I find balance, clarity, and perspective.
Manifestation: Creating With Intention
During one of our podcasts a while ago, Crystall looked at me and said, “You’re really good at manifesting things.” Her comment stopped me in my tracks. I hadn’t thought of myself that way before, but when I looked back, I realized she was right. So many of the most beautiful parts of my life, my adventures, friendships, even certain opportunities, had come from moments where I had set an intention, visualized it, and then trusted the process.
Since that conversation, I’ve been learning more about manifestation and how powerful it can be when paired with mindfulness and gratitude. I’m working on doing it intentionally now, setting clear goals, aligning my mindset with the life I want to live, and letting go of the fears that have kept me small.
Manifestation isn’t about forcing the universe to give you something. It’s about believing that what you desire already exists for you, and showing up in alignment with that energy. It’s about being open, receptive, and grateful before it even arrives.
Affirmations: Rewiring the Story
This is the one I still struggle with. Affirmations sound simple... say what you want to believe until it becomes true... but when the old inner dialogue is loud, it takes time to quiet it down.
Saying “I deserve love,” or “I deserve success,” still feels awkward sometimes. But I’m learning that affirmations aren’t about pretending to be perfect, they’re about retraining your mind to see what’s already there. Every time we repeat something positive, we build new pathways in our brain that help us break old patterns of self-sabotage.
So even when it feels uncomfortable, I keep practicing. “I am enough.” “I deserve good things.” “I am open to receiving abundance.” Because the truth is, we all do.
Gratitude: The Foundation of It All
If mindfulness keeps me balanced, and manifestation keeps me focused, then gratitude keeps me grounded.
I’m deeply grateful for the life I have, my boys, who are growing into incredible men; the friends who remind me what real connection feels like; my health that allows me to climb mountains and explore wild trails; and my home, which gives me peace and comfort.
These past few weeks especially, I’ve been reminded of just how blessed I am. I got to spend time with several of my closest friends, people who fill my life with laughter, support, and perspective. Those moments of connection remind me that life’s true wealth isn’t found in things, but in people, experiences, and memories.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough. It softens fear, heals old wounds, and reminds us that even when life isn’t perfect, it’s still profoundly beautiful.
The Mountain That Beat Me... Again
Last weekend, I set out to hike Mount Lipsett with Denali. It’s one of those mountains that keeps me humble... beautiful, wild, and downright brutal in winter. The score so far? Lipsett: three. Me: one.
The wind was howling, snow blowing sideways, and every step was a battle. Breaking trail through knee-deep (and sometimes waist-deep) snow was harder than the wind itself. My legs burned, my breath came out in clouds, and I realized quickly that I need to be in even better shape than I thought. Even Denali, who normally charges ahead, fell in line behind me, the snow too deep for her to lead.
Still, we pushed on, a full kilometre farther than anyone else had gone that day. A few hikers heading down told me it was impossible to summit once you hit the alpine because of the wind. But, stubborn (or maybe a little stupid), I decided to keep going anyway. I wasn’t ready to quit.
Eventually, the mountain made the choice for me. The gusts were so fierce that both Denali and I got blown over at one point. Standing on an exposed ridge in winds that powerful isn’t bravery, it’s recklessness, so I did the thing I hate most: I turned around.
I laughed at myself as I sat down in the snow, letting the icy wind pelt my face while Denali looked at me with that knowing dog expression that said, “Yeah, it’s time.”
And honestly, even though I didn’t make the summit, I felt completely alive. The view was breathtaking... endless jagged peaks, Mist Mountain towering beside me, snow peeling off the ridgelines like smoke or fire. The wind roared through the valley, reminding me just how small I am in the face of nature’s power.
It was humbling. And perfect.
Because sometimes life isn’t about conquering the mountain, it’s about respecting it.
It's about knowing when to keep going, and when to pause. It's about realizing that defeat isn’t always failure. It’s just part of the process.
That day on Lipsett reminded me of the same lesson I keep learning in life: you can be stubborn, strong, and resilient, and still need to surrender sometimes. The mountain beat me again, sure, but I walked away recharged, grateful, and more in tune with myself than when I started.
The Takeaway: Choose Awareness Over Auto-Pilot
Self-sabotage may always try to whisper, but mindfulness, manifestation, and gratitude are how I quiet that voice. When I slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with nature, even if I am getting blown down and beaten by the mountain, I’m reminded that I am exactly where I need to be, learning, growing, and becoming.
Every day is a new chance to manifest joy, to speak kindly to myself, and to live with gratitude for the simple, extraordinary gift of being alive.
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