Hosts & Co‑Hosts: Greg Shaw, Rich, Jay, Derek, Sam

This episode centers on a freeing idea: if something truly matters, it’s worth starting even when you can’t do it well yet.

Greg and the team explore how perfectionism often masks fear, how imperfect action creates learning, and why courage matters more than competence at the beginning.

Through personal stories, coaching lessons, recovery experiences, and reflections on kindness and community, the conversation reminds listeners that growth is messy.

Showing up imperfectly is often the most human—and most effective—way forward.

Imperfect action beats perfect inaction.

Progress comes from starting, stumbling, learning, and returning—not from waiting until fear or doubt disappear.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• How perfectionism shows up as procrastination

• Fear of failure and staying stuck

• Why beginner mistakes are essential

• Progress goals vs. outcome goals

• Kindness, grace, and community in hard seasons

• Growth through repetition, recovery, and support

🗒️ Episode Highlights & Takeaways

• Starting badly is not failure—it’s the start of skill and confidence

• Learning looks messy before it looks competent

• Support matters most when motivation fades

• Grace applies to ourselves as much as others

• Growth is rarely linear, and that’s normal

🗣️ Host & Co‑Host Reflections

Greg Shaw – Host

Greg grounds the episode with the idea that waiting to feel ready is often fear in disguise. He shares how the podcast itself began imperfectly and only improved through consistency.

Quotes:“Imperfect action is infinitely more valuable than perfect inaction.”“What worthy thing will you dare to do badly?”

Insight:Many meaningful things—kindness, creativity, justice, relationships—can’t be done perfectly, only sincerely and repeatedly.

Rich – Co‑Host

Drawing from years of coaching soccer, Rich focuses on repetition, resilience, and learning through failure.

Quotes:“You won’t be perfect the first time. Nobody is.”“Getting back up matters more than falling.”

Insight:Belief—given and received—often makes the difference. Growth needs permission to try again without shame.

Jay – Co‑Host

Jay highlights planning and positivity while sharing his recovery journey.

Quotes:“The base of completing a task is creating a plan.”

Insight:Nearly five months of sobriety began imperfectly, showing that progress requires effort, not flawlessness.

Derek – Co‑Host

Derek speaks about overthinking and lowering expectations to move forward calmly.

Quotes:“Less is more.”

Insight:Progress is experimentation—adjust, learn, and keep going.

Sam – Co‑Host

Sam shares honestly about setbacks, support, and grace.

Quotes:“I go flying off the track a lot.”

Insight:Community and patience keep people moving, even when progress feels chaotic.

📣 Final Message

Some of the most important things in life can’t be done perfectly. Waiting for perfection only guarantees they never begin.

Start. Stumble. Learn. Repeat.

📧 info@kindnessrx.org

Self-sabotage can look like procrastination, perfectionism, negative self-talk, unhealthy coping, or pushing people away when things start going well.

In this episode, the hosts unpack how fear (of failure/rejection and of success), low self-worth, and learned patterns can quietly derail progress—then share practical ways to interrupt the cycle with awareness, small steps, support, and self-compassion.

Key points

Self-sabotage is often unconscious: “We don’t wake up… and think… today I’m gonna undermine my own happiness…” — Greg

Common signs include procrastination, perfectionism, harsh self-criticism, relationship conflict or avoidance, unrealistic goals, and self-medicating.

Fear of failure can create “failure on our terms” (a false sense of control); fear of success can trigger imposter feelings and discomfort with change.

The first step is awareness: notice patterns, triggers, and themes (journaling helps).

Challenge unhelpful thoughts (“Is this true? Is this helpful?”).

Practice self-compassion: treat yourself as you would a good friend.

Break big goals into small, actionable steps; add accountability (a friend, coach, or therapist).

Build healthier coping options (movement, meditation, talking with someone supportive).

Host highlights

Greg: “Self-sabotage is a psychological and behavioral pattern that we can overcome.”

Takeaway:

Progress > perfection—celebrate tiny course corrections as real wins.

Rich (procrastination): “Breaking larger tasks down into small, manageable tasks…” reduces overwhelm.

Takeaway:

Start with the first micro-step (e.g., “write that first email”).

Jay (perfectionism/stuckness): “Stepping away from the task… and coming back to it” can help.

Takeaway:

If you don’t know the next step, ask someone for help to regain traction.

Derek (relationships): “Setting alarms on my phone” and using Post-its or visual cues helps him reconnect.

Takeaway:

Design reminders ahead of time so future-you follows through. Bonus: “Let’s flip the record over… put a new album on.”

Sarah (self-compassion): “Nobody is crueler to me than me ever… we should be the kindest to ourselves.”

Takeaway:

If you wouldn’t say it to a loved one, don’t say it to yourself—rewrite it more kindly.

Memorable moments

Derek shares a painful reflection (a letter from his father) and names the need for external help.

Jay connects addiction recovery and self-sabotage, expressing gratitude for a healthier chapter.

Lightning round: community care and “look out for your neighbors” (Rich, Sarah).

Resources & links mentioned

Contact: info@kindnessrx.org

Companion site mentioned: KindnessRX — kindnessrx.org

Listener action steps

Do one tiny starter step in the next five minutes.

Set a 15-minute “good enough” timer, then stop.

Tell one trusted person your goal (accountability).

Replace one inner-critic line with a kinder rewrite.

Set a weekly reminder to reach out to someone important.

Episode Webpage with resources:

https://ecency.com/hive-166030/@gregscloud/how-to-stop-self-sabotage