I want to share a moment of profound courage from one of my coaching sessions. We have a practice I cherish called “Tell the Truth Tuesday.” It’s a sacred space, free from judgment, where we drop the armor and get radically honest about the struggles we often hide.

And let me be clear: this kind of honesty isn’t weakness. It’s the birthplace of true strength.

On this particular Tuesday, my client leaned in, his voice raw with vulnerability. “Steve,” he said, “I feel like I’m lacking willpower.” Then he went deeper, sharing the real truth: “I keep self-sabotaging with negativity and bad habits. I get in my own way.”

Leaders, that was the moment everything changed. Why? Because the beginning of every great breakthrough is the brave acknowledgment of where you are. You can’t chart a new course until you admit you’re lost.

If you’re reading this, you probably know the feeling all too well.

You start the day with a full tank of motivation and a clear plan. But then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the slide begins. Maybe it’s a wave of self-doubt around 2 PM. Perhaps it’s the lure of procrastination on that one big, important project. The negative soundtrack in your mind kicks in: “Who are you kidding? You’re not good enough. Why even try?”

Here’s the liberating truth that can change your life, backed by neuroscience: only 5% of your daily actions are driven by your conscious, logical mind. The other 95% are run on autopilot by your subconscious.

Your subconscious is a powerful supercomputer, but it’s often running on old, outdated software. It replays tapes of past failures, heartaches, and limiting beliefs. The good news? You are the programmer. You can update the software.

Here are 4 powerful ways to reprogram your subconscious, align it with your goals, and turn self-sabotage into self-leadership.