Why We Run from Stress
Hook
“Avoidance is an unspoken confession to ourselves.”
Research
Stanford University — Crum et al. (2013)
The study found that individuals who perceive stress as beneficial and embrace it tend to have better health and productivity outcomes compared to those who view it negatively.
View sourceReflection
I have always been a master of avoidance. When stress looms, my instinct is to escape — to sink into a world of distractions instead of facing what's in front of me.
But every time I dodge, I leave behind a little piece of unfinished business. It’s as if I’m admitting to myself that I’m not ready to handle it, that I fear the potential failure or discomfort that might come with confrontation.
Yet, in the quiet moments of reflection, I realize that each act of avoidance is a missed opportunity to build resilience. What am I truly afraid of? Perhaps it’s not the stress itself, but the mirror it holds up that reveals my own insecurities.
The Insight
Our avoidance is a window into our deepest insecurities and fears.
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