Your goals aren’t failing because you’re weak; they’re colliding with a brain designed for safety, comfort, and the familiar. We dig into the real engine of self-sabotage—how pain and pleasure drive every choice—and show how to flip those circuits so action becomes the easy path.

I break down why the brain, an energy-hungry survival machine, resists change even when the change is good for us. We explore Tony Robbins’ pain–pleasure framework, the role of limiting beliefs, and how motivation often appears when staying the same becomes unbearable. From the client who “checks the weather” instead of organizing, to my own rituals that moved from effort to identity, you’ll hear how our neuroassociations quietly steer our days.

Then we go deep on dopamine. It’s not the molecule of liking; it’s the molecule of wanting. Social feeds and slot machines use variable rewards to spike anticipation, then leave you in a trough that makes real life feel flat. I outline a practical dopamine reset—delete or wall off apps, set hard evening cutoffs, and commit to 30 days—to help subtle joys like deep work, prayer, movement, and connection feel rich again. You’ll also get a seven-day self-leadership plan: run a pain–pleasure audit, use the five-minute rule, emotionalize your future self, and design an environment where good choices are your default.

You’re not stuck with the wiring you inherited. With leverage, accountability, and a smarter context, you can reassign pain to inaction and pleasure to progress. If you’re ready to stop self-sabotage and start building momentum, hit play, subscribe, and share the one five-minute habit you’ll start today. Your future self is waiting—what’s your first move?

Follow Coach Polly @getbusythriving and Coach Sam @thesamanthapruitt

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