Archetypes are universally recognised patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting. Life flips out of balance when you live through only one side of an archetype while avoiding, ignoring, or rejecting its opposite side. You may not even realise when this is happening. It’s easy to identify with one familiar expression and overlook the full range of qualities an archetype contains.

Every archetype has both an empowered and a disempowered side, a constructive and a destructive potential. Each side contains countless qualities that you can express consciously and intentionally, or unconsciously and by default.

Take the Saboteur archetype, for example. It’s an archetype we all have in common and often regarded as one of the most challenging of all archetypes. Some have transformed its influence but many of us still struggle with it.

When you live through the disempowered side of your Inner Saboteur, you hold yourself back, doubt your abilities, or fear being exposed or failing. But when you integrate its higher potential, the Saboteur becomes your inner guide, a voice of discernment that helps you make wise choices and act with integrity. If you reject its downside, that energy doesn’t disappear; it simply shows up in others, reflected back through situations or relationships that seem to block your progress.

Bringing both sides into awareness transforms the Saboteur from an inner “demon” into a trusted guide and ally. This integration restores balance. It allows you to move from self-sabotage to self-trust and faith in your ability to learn and grow. All of which can shift your mindset from self-doubt to conscious creation.

Journal Prompts

1. Deconstruct the saboteur archetype by brainstorming 3 disempowering traits and 3 empowering traits. Then ask yourself:
2. Which side of my Saboteur archetype do I recognise more often. Is it the one that holds me back, or is it the discerning one that protects my integrity?
3. What situations tend to trigger my inner Saboteur, and what is it trying to protect me from?
4. When have I mistaken my Saboteur’s caution for resistance, or my resistance for wisdom?
5. Who or what situation in my life might be reflecting back the part of my Saboteur that I’ve rejected or denied?
6. What would trusting my empowered Saboteur look and feel like in daily life?

In its disempowered form, the Inner Saboteur can undermine your confidence, fuel self-doubt, and prevent progress through fear of failure or exposure. But in its empowered form, the Saboteur becomes a wise inner guardian, alerting you to genuine risks and guiding you to act with integrity. When you reject or deny the darker side of the Saboteur, you project it onto others. This makes it easy to believe others are the only ones holding you back or betraying your success. Integrating both sides restores balance, turning inner conflict into a more conscious choice.

Life falls out of balance when you operate from only one side of an archetype while avoiding, ignoring, or rejecting its opposite side. Identifying both sides of an archetype brings your thoughts, emotions and behaviours back into balance. It’s an effective way to own your own shadow, change habits and create healthy relationships.

Archetypes are an unlimited resource of knowledge and wisdom. To maintain balance, I recommend deconstructing your archetypes. Start with the Inner Saboteur. List 3 different traits for both sides on a regular basis to uncover the many ways you sabotage yourself, sabotage others and how from your perspective, they appear to sabotage you.