Take the Initiative
How many times have you taken a different path to your office in order to avoid someone? How many times have you changed the subject in conversation because you simply did not want to deal with an issue? We’ve all done it, but avoidance in most cases is nothing more than a quick fix. It’s a band-aid that eventually comes loose. When a problem, issue, or circumstance is so big that you run away from it, chances are it isn’t going to just go away on its own! When you resort to avoidance, what’s really got you? Fear!
Fear is real, but since it lives in our heads we have the power to overcome it. Instead of avoiding what distresses you, step out of your comfort zone and choose to face it head-on.
Tips for Conquering Fear and Avoiding Avoidance
Be present. Pay attention to what you are feeling, why you are fearful, and what you’re wanting to avoid.
Be open. Ask permission to speak straight, call a family meeting, or just say, “Honey, can we talk for a minute?” Honestly communicate what you feel without projecting. Communication is not about making people feel wrong; tell the person how you feel and allow them space to do the same.
Be committed. As always, you have to commit to getting what you say you want and by-when you say you want it. When you aren’t committed, you allow avoidance to dictate the direction of your life. Is that really the way you want to live your life?
On the grand scale, your life is very short, and if you avoid what makes you uncomfortable, you will miss out on opportunities you didn’t even know existed. When you make others feel wrong consistently for how you feel – without communicating those feelings — you shut out the people who care about you most.
Remember, every second that goes by is a second you can’t get back.
The more time you spend avoiding communication, the more time you waste! I don’t have any time to waste, and I'm guessing you don't either. Face what's stopping you head-on. Take the initiative. You'll be happier and more complete in every aspect of your life, and those around you will be too.