"KEEP YOUR OLE WRENCH!"

A man was on a long drive heading home for a large family gathering. His drive took him through miles of countryside and farmland. He had previously been having trouble with his car's engine and was nervous about the trip. To make matters more stressful, he had forgotten to pack his toolbox for the trip in case he had more car trouble. 

Driving into the dark of night he nervously  progressed on his journey when suddenly the car engine sputtered, bucked and quit. A quick check under the hood revealed a simple problem that could be fixed with an adjustable wrench. He had no tools! Cell phone? No service. He could see way in the distance a lone farmhouse with lights on. He started a long walk toward the house. As he walked he began to think, 'it's late at night. It's the middle of nowhere and the people at the house will probably be suspicious of me and not loan me a wrench.' The thought was a little irritating. He continued walking, 'it's late at night, they may loan me a wrench but will be irritated because I disturbed them so late at night.' He began feeling a little defensive. He then noticed the lights at the house go off. 'They've probably gone to bed, I'll be waking them up and they'll be angry having to get out of bed so late at night for a stranger.' Now coming closer to the house the man's thoughts continued,'It's so late at night. I'll probably be waking them up. They'll be angry with me, call the dogs on me, holler at me and call me names as they run me off their property!' Finally reaching the porch of the farmhouse the man was feeling furious!  He pounded on the front door. Lights came on in the house. The farmer opened the front door and before he could even say a word, the now angry man shouted at the farmer, "I DON'T NEED OR WANT YOUR HELP ANYWAY! YOU CAN KEEP YOUR OLE WRENCH!"

The man then stomped off the porch and headed back to is inoperable car. 

How often do we do this kind of thing to ourselves through self-sabotage?