Self awareness
Questionnaire to Map "Upper Limit Problems"
This questionnaire helps a client identify self-sabotaging behaviors that emerge when they approach.
When a client consistently undermines their own progress at the finish line, the pattern can be baffling. A career opportunity arises, followed by a sudden family crisis. A period of genuine happiness is interrupted by a careless mistake or manufactured anxiety. The client can’t see the connection, only the frustrating results of their own invisible resistance.
This directive organizes the client’s experience, allowing them to draw a direct line between moments of expansion and the specific self-sabotaging behaviors that follow. Instead of a mysterious cycle, they are left with a concrete articulation of their upper limit problem, providing a solid foundation for your work together.
Questionnaire to Map "Upper Limit Problems"
Think of one to three distinct moments from the past year when you felt a surge of success, happiness, or deep contentment. This could be a professional win, a financial gain, a personal breakthrough, or a period of unusual ease and connection. Hold one of those specific moments in your mind and answer the questions below. Repeat the process for each positive moment you identified.
Event 1: Briefly describe the positive event or feeling.
In the hours or days immediately following this event, did you pick a fight or start an argument with someone? If yes, what was it about?
Did you find yourself criticizing your own performance or finding fault with someone else? What were the specific criticisms?
Did you suddenly develop a physical symptom (headache, backache, cold) or have a minor, clumsy accident? Describe it.
Did you begin to worry intensely about something, either related or unrelated to the positive event? What was the worry?
Did you deflect praise or downplay your achievement when talking to others? What did you say?
Did you create a new problem that needed your immediate attention or a crisis to manage? What was the problem?
Did you break a commitment to yourself or someone else (e.g., skip the gym, miss a deadline, eat something you planned to avoid)?
Event 2: Briefly describe the positive event or feeling.
In the hours or days immediately following this event, did you pick a fight or start an argument with someone? If yes, what was it about?
Did you find yourself criticizing your own performance or finding fault with someone else? What were the specific criticisms?
Did you suddenly develop a physical symptom (headache, backache, cold) or have a minor, clumsy accident? Describe it.
Did you begin to worry intensely about something, either related or unrelated to the positive event? What was the worry?
Did you deflect praise or downplay your achievement when talking to others? What did you say?
Did you create a new problem that needed your immediate attention or a crisis to manage? What was the problem?
Did you break a commitment to yourself or someone else (e.g., skip the gym, miss a deadline, eat something you planned to avoid)?
General Questions
Answer the following based on your general patterns.
When things are going extremely well, do you find yourself waiting for something to go wrong?
Think about the people closest to you. Do you ever feel a sense of guilt or discomfort when you are significantly more successful or happier than they are?
Do you carry a subtle belief that great success must be followed by a great fall or a heavy burden?
If you were to let your life become as good as it can be, what is the first fear that comes to mind?
Complete the following sentence with the first thought that occurs to you: I can’t let myself feel too good for too long because _______________.
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