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We avoid our problems because they are difficult and time-consuming to deal with. But unfortunately, avoiding your problems long-term often leads to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and bigger problems.
In this week’s deep dive, I’ll discuss five ideas that can help you stop avoiding your problems.
If you like this week’s deep dive, my full-length video and article go even deeper.
Here are five ideas that can help you stop avoiding your problems.
To solve problems, admit they exist. Stop lying to yourself about failing relationships, health issues, or neglected responsibilities. Instead, be honest with yourself. Accept your problems so you can take action and fix them.
Problems often get worse when you ignore them. So tackle them before they escalate.
Others often see our problems when we don’t. So ask family, friends, and co-workers to identify the problems you’re avoiding. Listen to their feedback and take action if necessary.
Going to the gym because you value health and wellness is good. However, going to the gym to avoid feeling self-hatred is not.
Therefore, if your behavior is fueled by avoidance, you’ll want to recalibrate what guides you. To do this act based on values, not to avoid negative feelings.
Here’s how. Define your values and make choices that align with them. For example, suppose you value a fulfilling, loving, long-term relationship. In that case, you should date only when you find a compatible partner, not to avoid loneliness.
We often avoid our problems because they are difficult to face. But most things get easier with exposure. So start slow and gradually learn to face your problems so you can overcome them.
Want More?
Check out my full-length video and article on avoidance.
When faced with a problem, I often procrastinate if I don’t know where to begin. Recently, I had to submit an annual “Self Classification Report To The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security” for my mediation app, Awair. I didn’t know where to start, and the complicated language didn’t help. After briefly looking at a dense wall of text on a government website, I postponed the task.
Over the following weeks, the task and my growing aversion to completing it weighed on my mind. Finally, as the deadline approached, I convinced myself that the task would consume an entire day.
However, when I finally sat down to tackle the problem, I realized it wasn’t as daunting as I had imagined. Surprisingly, I managed to finish the task in less than an hour.
I share this story because it’s not the first time I’ve experienced this problem. I tend to magnify the difficulty of things in my mind, particularly when I don’t understand them. But in almost every case, the task is easier than anticipated once I sit down to figure it out.
So here’s my question for you. Do you do the same thing? If so, are you currently putting off a problem because you believe it’s more difficult to solve than it is? If so, I challenge you to take a deep breath, then sit down with your problem and tackle one small step at a time. In doing so, I think you’ll be surprised by how much easier most problems are once you face them.
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the information presented in this email is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The creator of this email is not a licensed financial advisor and any decisions made based on this information are at your own risk. It’s important to consult with a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions, as this information does not consider individual investment goals, risk preferences, or financial situations. Please remember that past performance does not guarantee future results, and all investments involve risk, including the potential loss of your initial investment.
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