Overcoming Self-Sabotage: Lessons for the Peaceful Mompreneur from Denise Walsh

Self-sabotage is one of those sneaky things that shows up when you're trying to move forward—especially when you're a mom running a business and managing a household. You want to make progress, but something inside keeps pulling the emergency brake. In a powerful episode of the Peaceful Mompreneur podcast, Denise Walsh, a former clinical psychologist turned multimillion-dollar entrepreneur, shared exactly why that happens—and how we can finally stop getting in our own way.

What Is Self-Sabotage, Really?

At its core, self-sabotage is simple.

“Self-sabotage is saying you want to do something and then not doing it.” – Denise Walsh

This disconnect between what we say we want and what we actually do slowly chips away at our confidence. Over time, we stop trusting ourselves. That early alarm? We don’t believe we’ll actually get up. That sugar detox? We assume we’ll cave by day two.

“When that happens consistently enough over time, you actually begin to lose self-trust.”

That lost trust can leave us feeling stuck, frustrated, and ashamed. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Why We Do It: Self-Image and Stress

Denise dives deep into why we self-sabotage, and it starts with how we see ourselves.

“We will never outperform our own self-image.”

Our self-image—our internal picture of who we are and what we’re capable of—is mostly shaped by age seven. If your early environment taught you that you had to hustle to be loved, or that rest equals laziness, then guess what? That programming still runs in the background of your life and business.

Add stress to the mix, and it’s no wonder we crumble. Denise explains that when we’re already running at a stress level of 8 or 9, even a minor hiccup can trigger fight-or-flight mode.

“We make decisions based on instant gratification, not long-term goals, when we’re stressed.”

So if you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling instead of writing the email, or choosing ice cream over that workout you promised yourself—you’re not lazy. You’re human. And there are ways to change that default.

Four Strategies to Overcome Self-Sabotage

Denise shares four tools that can help rewire your inner world so your outer actions can finally match your vision.

1. Repetition Builds New Habits

You don’t need a 12-step plan. You need consistent action. Denise encourages starting small and staying consistent to build new patterns of belief and behavior.

2. Your Environment Matters

What you see, hear, and experience daily shapes your subconscious. Denise calls this your “home.”

“Your subconscious is taking in about 70,000 bits of information per minute.”

Surround yourself with people, visuals, and words that reinforce the identity you want to grow into—not the one you’re trying to outgrow.

3. Try Hypnosis for Self-Worth

Hypnosis works directly with the subconscious to shift your core beliefs. Denise recommends starting with self-worth:

“Start with ‘I am lovable.’ That’s the foundation for everything.”

When you believe you are worthy, your actions will start to reflect that truth.

4. Prioritize Your Health

You can’t show up fully in your business or your family if your body is running on fumes. Healthy food, rest, and movement are not luxuries. They’re part of the plan.

“When you don’t feel good physically, it’s exponentially harder to pursue your goals.”

For Mompreneurs: Ask for Help, Let Go of Comparison

As a mom of young kids who built a seven-figure business, Denise gets the juggle. She shared that one of her greatest breakthroughs was learning to ask for help—and releasing the guilt that came with it.

“When it was work time, it was work time. When it was family time, it was family time.”

That clarity helped her be fully present in both spaces. And that comparison trap? She let go of it, even when it came to comparing herself to her own mom.

“You don’t have to do it all to be doing it right.”

Faith, Vision, and Moving Forward

Denise wraps up with a truth that will resonate with any faith-filled mompreneur: You don’t need to know every step. You just need to take the next one.

“The how shows up as you’re moving your feet.”

Instead of trying to shrink your fears, expand your vision. Get crystal clear on what success looks like for you—in your business and in your home. Let that vision become louder than your doubt.

“Make what you want bigger and stronger and louder, so it pulls you forward.”

Final Thoughts

Self-sabotage isn’t a flaw—it’s a signal. It’s showing you where your beliefs, environment, or stress levels are out of alignment with your purpose. And with the right tools and mindset, you can break the pattern.

Denise’s wisdom is a powerful reminder that peace and purpose can coexist—and that even in the chaos of motherhood and business, you’re not stuck. You’re just getting started.

💬 Ready to Pray or Talk This Through?

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