What happens in our brain when we avoid things

When we avoid something, we’re training our brain that the thing, situation, person, is dangerous and a threat to our safety and survival.

We don’t realize that’s what we’re doing, but subconsciously that’s the message that gets wired and solidified into our brain when we keep avoiding.

That avoiding also starts to create an elephant in the room, an underlying anxiety (because you’re training your brain that there’s a threat), and a rotting and rift from the inside out.

You think, feel, and act from a place of anxiety and avoidance. 

Your body and nervous system are going to feel like they’re constantly under threat and keep you in fight/flight/freeze when you don’t need to be if you take a kitten step to show up for yourself.

Remember, we’re not trying to get rid of the anxious feeling. That feeling is just a warning, a little flag waving.

It’s not possible, necessary, or the goal to destroy the feeling.

Contrary to the fib our primitive brain is telling us, the feeling won’t kill us.

That feeling or sensation is just a heads up from your nervous system and you get to decide how to respond.

Start small to build evidence that you’re safe, grow your confidence, and self-trust.

You do that buy acknowledging and naming your feelings, noticing how they’re showing up in your body (I feel my heart racing, my palms are sweating etc), and then taking one small action.

Action helps you see that you’re in charge, gives you your power back, helps you move in the direction you want to go.

Don’t go for a 180* change! We’re not looking to figuratively come in the room and flip tables. There’s a time and place for that and this is not one of them.

That’s too much for your precious nervous system.

Small, frequent tweaks are what really, and permanently, move the needle.

What’s something you’ve been avoiding because it’s got ‘ya feeling like a scared feral cat?

Name the feelings and sensations.

Decide on one small, simple, and easy thing you can do to get you going in the direction you want to go.

You got this, Sunshine and I’ve always got your back!