Psychological reversal – the gateway to friction
Psychological reversal – the gateway to friction
Discover how psychological reversal may be keeping you stuck in your career, despite your desire for change, and learn to overcome common barriers like fear, doubt, and deservedness. Take actionable steps to break free from limiting beliefs and unlock your full potential in the workplace.
Have you ever felt that, despite wanting to overcome a problem or challenge, you somehow hold yourself back?
The Allure of Unjust Justifications
I see this so often with my clients. They want to change their work situation, find a new role, or move to a different organisation, yet they feel stuck. This leads to either inaction or taking actions that are misaligned with their goals. It often sounds like a justification:
- “I’ve tried saying no, but it doesn’t change anything.”
- “I stay for the flexibility; I wouldn’t get that anywhere else.”
- “All new jobs want full-time employees.”
- “I need to stay for the future maternity leave pay.”
- “I don’t want to start again from scratch in my career.”
- “I don’t like what I do, but changing means getting paid less.”
- “I don’t have enough time or energy to look and apply for jobs.”
- “I need to get to the next level before I can leave.”
- “I’m scared of putting myself out there and facing rejections.”
Reflect: What do you tell yourself to justify remaining stuck in your current role?
Psychological Reversal
Psychological reversal can be entirely unconscious, or you may consciously know that you have a fear of overcoming the problem—a fear of not deserving it or a sense that it’s not safe to move past it.
Deservedness
The most common factor is deservedness. If you don’t believe you deserve to overcome a challenge, any attempts to do so will be met with internal resistance. In practice, this might show up as a critical voice in your head, comparing you unfavourably to others and making you feel inadequate.
Take a moment to say this statement out loud three times:
“I don’t deserve to be helped with this problem.”
Does it feel true or untrue to you? If it feels untrue, fantastic! It’s unlikely that deservedness is the issue.
Safety
If a situation is genuinely unsafe or dangerous, a fear for your safety is justified. However, many situations are perceived as unsafe due to past experiences. For example, speaking up in a meeting or giving a presentation isn’t inherently dangerous, yet many of us experience a fight-flight-freeze response. This type of psychological reversal is common in people with anxiety-related conditions and even those with chronic pain.
Say this statement out loud three times:
“It’s not safe for me to get over this problem.”
Does it feel true for you? If so, safety may be what’s keeping you stuck.
Doubt
While doubt itself doesn’t necessarily signify psychological reversal, if it’s a deep-seated doubt about your ability to solve the issue, it may be keeping you stuck.
Say this statement out loud three times:
“I don’t have the resources to overcome this problem.”
Did something come to mind, such as time, energy, money, or capability? If yes, doubt might be the barrier you’re facing.
Permission
Often, permission operates alongside other issues such as safety or deservedness. It manifests as not allowing yourself to overcome a problem because you don’t feel it’s safe, or you don’t believe you deserve to.
Say this statement out loud three times:
“I give myself permission to overcome this problem.”
Did it feel genuine, or was there an element of disbelief? Remember, only you can grant yourself permission to move forward.
Next Steps
If you want to overcome a problem or challenge but you’ve discovered today that there is a part of you that feels resistance to that change, know that you’re not alone—and there are solutions.
Take one action today by completing the Career Accelerator Scorecard in under 3 minutes to benchmark your career and receive a personalised insights report.
If you have any questions, you know where to find me—I’m just one email away.
Keep opening up,
Hannah
When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help you:
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Over the next three episodes, we’ll meet inspirational women from history, and you’ll be blown away by the details Lauren shares.
Episode 1: Hertha Ayrton (1854–1923) A British inventor, mathematician, engineer, physicist, and active suffragist. She was the first woman to present a research paper at a Royal Society meeting and the first to win the Hughes Medal. This is a story of female friendship, male allyship, and fascinating science. Tune in on your favourite platform: 🎙️ iTunes 🎙️ Spotify
Episode 2: Dr Kamala (Bhagvat) Sohonie (1911–1998) The first Indian woman to receive a doctorate in science (Cambridge University, 1939). Dr Sohonie challenged her initial rejection from a graduate programme, which was based entirely on her gender, by sitting in protest until she was admitted, paving the way for other women. She was a biochemist whose research improved nutrition for impoverished children and pregnant women. Tune in on your favourite platform: 🎙️ iTunes🎙️ Spotify