Avoidance is your problem, not discipline. You’ve tried vision boards, planners, motivational quotes…and yet that big thing on your heart remains untouched. Why? Because you’re avoiding discomfort—visibility, judgment, even success.
Let me guess…
You’ve got the vision board.
The planner with color-coded blocks.
The podcast episodes on productivity.
The 6am alarm.
The motivational quotes saved in your phone.
And yet — you’re still not doing the thing.
You know, that thing.
The big one.
The offer you should’ve launched by now.
The project that’s been sitting on your heart for six months.
The message you’re scared to share out loud.
And you’ve told yourself what most high-achievers tell themselves:
“I just need more discipline.”
But what if I told you… that’s not it?
What if discipline isn’t your issue?
What if what you really need… is a mirror?
Because you’re not lazy.
You’re just avoiding.
Avoidance is your problem, not discipline. You’ve tried vision boards, planners, alarms—and yet that one calling remains untouched. Because your brain is protecting you from discomfort—fear of judgment, failure, or even unexpected success.
Table of Contents
The Lie of “If I Were More Disciplined…”
You’ve been trained to believe success is just one perfect morning routine away.
That if you could wake up earlier, focus harder, stop scrolling, stop procrastinating, stop being so “inconsistent”…
Then it would happen.
Then you’d launch.
Then you’d finally feel proud of yourself.
But here’s the thing no one tells you:
Procrastination isn’t about discipline.
It’s about protection.
Your brain isn’t broken.
It’s doing exactly what it’s wired to do: avoid pain.
And what feels painful?
- Failing.
- Being seen.
- Getting judged.
- Letting people down.
- Actually succeeding and having to keep up with it.
So you delay.
You clean the house.
You reorganize your notion dashboard.
You “optimize” your calendar.
You binge another course.
You do everything… except the one thing that matters.
How I Figured This Out (the Embarrassing Way)
Let me tell you a story.
There was a launch I was planning.
It had real stakes — people waiting for it, money on the line, my team prepped.
I had everything I needed:
A warm audience.
An irresistible offer.
Even a well-oiled system ready to run.
But I didn’t launch.
Instead, I spent a week tweaking my brand colors.
Changing one word in the headline.
Writing content I never posted.
At the end of the week?
Nothing.
I blamed my lack of “discipline.”
Told myself I was slacking.
Felt guilty, ashamed, confused.
But then I sat down and asked:
“What am I actually afraid of here?”
Turns out, I wasn’t lazy.
I was scared.
Scared no one would buy.
Scared too many people would.
Scared the launch would succeed and trap me in a model I didn’t love.
So I avoided.
Not because I lacked drive.
But because I lacked honesty.
What You’re Really Avoiding
So let’s get clear.
What are you avoiding right now?
Here are a few of the most common (and most honest) ones I see:
1. Visibility
Not just being seen — but being known.
If you put out your real message, what will your old coworkers think?
What will your family say?
What if people unfollow?
What if they think, “Who do you think you are?”
So instead of going there, you post something safe.
Again.
You protect yourself from judgment.
But you also block connection.
2. Responsibility
You say you want success.
But part of you knows — the more you grow, the more pressure shows up.
Clients. Delivery. Taxes. Teams. Expectations.
So you stay small.
Not because you’re not ready…
…but because you don’t want to be responsible.
3. Letting Go
Sometimes it’s not the future that scares you — it’s what you’ll have to leave behind.
Old identity.
Old friends.
Old routines.
Old offers.
Old validation systems.
You avoid taking the next step…
Because you haven’t grieved the last one.
Avoidance Wears Many Costumes
Avoidance is sneaky.
It doesn’t always look like Netflix and snacks.
It often looks like:
- “Strategic planning” for 12 weeks before doing anything
- Rewriting your About page for the 17th time
- Perfecting your logo before writing a single post
- Buying a $2,000 course you’ll never open
- Waiting for the “right time”
- Switching niches every 3 months
- Posting content that gets engagement but not clients
It feels like working.
But it’s really hiding.
You might call it strategic planning or optimizing tools, but if you’re still not doing the thing you know matters, guess what? Avoidance is your problem.
The Real Fix (Spoiler: It’s Not a New Habit Tracker)
You don’t need more structure.
You need more truth.
So instead of trying to fix yourself with another productivity hack…
Try asking yourself this:
“What am I trying to protect myself from?”
And then this:
“What would I need to believe to move anyway?”
Because that’s the actual work.
The courageous work.
The work that changes everything — even if it doesn’t show up on your calendar.
5 Questions to Break the Avoidance Cycle
Take a moment. Answer these honestly.
- What’s one thing I keep saying I’ll do, but haven’t — and why?
- What emotion am I afraid I’ll feel if I do it?
- What outcome am I afraid will happen if I actually succeed?
- What belief about myself am I trying to protect?
- What would become possible if I let go of that fear?
(Really write them down. Avoidance hates clarity.)
My Invitation to You: Move Anyway
You don’t have to stop being afraid.
You just have to stop avoiding because of it.
Your next level isn’t waiting on your discipline.
It’s waiting on your honesty.
So say the scary thing.
Post the bold post.
Email the list.
Make the offer.
Raise the price.
Burn the old funnel.
Launch the weird thing.
Not because you’re fearless.
But because you’re finally done hiding.
Scientific American: Why People Procrastinate, and How to Overcome It
Final Thought: Your Avoidance Is Costing You
Every day you delay, here’s what you lose:
- Confidence
- Momentum
- Connection
- Opportunities
- Peace of mind
- Creative joy
- Actual income
So the question becomes:
“Is staying safe really worth what you’re sacrificing?”
Only you can answer that.
But if you’re done pretending discipline is the problem…
…and you’re ready to get real?
Let’s move.
Want Help Doing the Thing (For Real)?
DM me the word MOVE and I’ll send you:
✅ My “Avoidance Audit” to spot where you’re hiding
✅ The micro-move method I use to build momentum daily
✅ The exact 3-question script I ask myself when fear creeps in (and it always does)
You don’t need to be more disciplined.
You just need to stop disappearing from your own life.
Let’s get visible.