Denzel’s cautionary suggestion is a reference to a Biblical passage and can be viewed as a warning against self-sabotage. It refers to our internal demons – our vulnerabilities and frailties. The part of ourselves that wonders whether we deserve the success, the happiness, the brass ring. Maybe, just maybe, it’s too scary to be that deserving so we undermine and sabotage ourselves – letting our internal critics win out. “See, I told you so!” says the inner critic. “You aren’t good enough to get that award.” We are simultaneously afraid of success and afraid of failure. It’s much more comfortable in the middle.

Most of us don’t self-sabotage quite as publicly. We don’t finish that master’s thesis or follow up after a great first interview; we show up late for an important meeting or oversleep and don’t show up at all. We allow perfectionism to take over and, as a result, never get the projects done.

As you begin your weekend, I leave you with a few ways to deal with your inner self-saboteur: