Why do I sabotage my efforts at achieving my goals? Who is that voice in my head, anyway?

If you’ve ever tried to break an old habit that isn’t serving you, or form a new healthier habit, you have probably encountered the phenomenon known as “cognitive dissonance.”   One part of your mind is saying “yes, yes, yes” and another part is saying, “no, no, no” all at the same time or in rapid sequence. It’s like a tug of war with no peace in sight.  It’s easy to feel like you are a spectator, a victim, just waiting to see who wins this time.  How can you get control of the situation so that the “real you” wins?