Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind Podcast, where we're learning how to be happier by working with our minds.
If you'd like to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com and let’s get you started on a path to being happier.
When Avoidance Becomes Heavy
A student told me:
“I’ve been avoiding something I need to face, and the longer I put it off, the louder the fear gets.”
Haven’t we all felt that?
The email we don’t answer.
The conversation we avoid.
The problem we keep pushing aside.
At first, it’s just discomfort.
But with time, it grows heavier.
Not because the situation has worsened—
But because our relationship to it has.
The Mind Creates Stories
When we avoid something, our mind fills the unknown with fearful stories.
“I’ll never figure this out.”
“I’m falling behind.”
“Something’s wrong with me.”
Avoidance feeds fear.
And the longer we wait, the louder those voices get.
One Gentle Step
But here’s the truth:
You don’t need to solve it all at once.
You only need to take one small, compassionate step.
- Write the first sentence of the email.
- Open the banking app and just breathe.
- Book the appointment with one click.
- Set a timer for 15 minutes on that creative project.
Not to finish.
Just to begin.
Why Action Helps
Fear often doesn’t live in the problem itself.
It lives in the avoidance of it.
When we act, even gently, we show ourselves:
I can meet this moment.
Action anchors us in reality.
It quiets the critic.
It melts the freeze.
And slowly, what felt impossible becomes manageable.
The Invitation
Don’t wait to feel ready.
Don’t wait to feel fearless.
Just begin.
Even clumsily. Even imperfectly.
Because the moment you take a step,
the “monster under the bed” shrinks into something human—
something you can face.
I hope this has been helpful.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
