Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior

Mark Goulston · Philip Goldberg

Feb 1996 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

What’s holding you back?

Self-defeating behavior is the #1 reason that people seek psychotherapy. Whether it’s envy, compulsion, inaction, holding a grudge, or not moving on, so many of our biggest stumbling blocks are self-imposed, preventing us from achieving the happiness, love, and success we all want in our lives. The good news is: We can do better.

Get Out of Your Own Way explains why we sabotage ourselves and offers proven steps of action to transform behavior from self-defeating to life-enhancing. With anecdotes and usable insights drawn from decades of clinical practice, Dr. Mark Goulston shares ideas that have helped thousands of patients overcome pain, fear, and frustration to approach life’s challenges with dignity, courage, and even humor.

Discover practical steps toward positive change that you can work into your daily routine, starting today.

Ratings and reviews

Definitely not worth it. This book basically wants the reader to always have sympathy for the other person in the situation. The title of this book should have been "well, how do you think they feel".

I bought this because it was on sale for $2...and I returned it because it wasn't even worth that. It seriously reads like a grade school personal opinion paper. Case in point: in the (extremely brief) chapter on procrastination, the author states that he avoided doing things where he would be isolated from others, therefore, procrastination is REALLY about loneliness! Period. End of story. Umm...really? Not for me it isn't. The only suggested step to take was to find a study- or work-buddy, and suddenly you will no longer want to procrastinate because you won't be alone! Other chapters were similarly over-simplistic and in general just missed the mark. I rarely write reviews, but this book ended up being such a piece of fluffy nonsense that I feel compelled to warn others.

Blaming self defeating behavior solely on parents is annoying. People can and do make their own decisions even if they are treated well or given the proper tools. Some people choose not to use them for whatever reason. I think that needs to be remedied in any future editions of this book.

About the author

Mark Goulston, M.D., is a corporate consultant who works with executives, managers, and line workers to help them get out of their own way so they can realize the success that their skills, talents, and abilities deserve. His clients include Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, GE, White & Case, Eli Lilly and Company, Disney, Kodak, and the FBI. He writes "The Leading Edge" column for Fast Company. He was selected as one of America's Top Psychiatrists for 2004-2005 by the Consumers' Research Council of America. Dr. Goulston is the author of Get Out of Your Own Way and Six Secrets of a Lasting Relationship.
Philip Goldberg, a novelist and screenwriter, has authored or coauthored sixteen books.