Fear striking right as you're about to send that important email? That lunch invitation sitting in your drafts for days? You're not alone. We all avoid things that make us uncomfortable, but what if that avoidance is precisely what's keeping you from the life you truly want?

Join David and Hannah Sage as they dive deep into the psychology of avoidance – that sneaky habit of sidestepping discomfort, anxiety, or fear. Drawing from the groundbreaking work of Dr. Luana Marques, Harvard Medical School professor and anxiety expert, this episode reveals the paradoxical truth: the more we avoid what makes us anxious, the bigger that anxiety grows.

The science is fascinating but also empowering. Your brain creates a feedback loop where momentary relief from avoiding something reinforces both the anxiety and the avoidance itself. But there's a way out. Through Dr. Marques' three-step Bold Move framework – Detect, Disrupt, and Reframe to take action – you'll learn how to recognize your avoidance patterns, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and take meaningful steps toward what matters most to you.

We share practical techniques like the 5-Second Rule for immediate action, the 2-Minute Rule for quick tasks, and the powerful perspective shift of reframing physical sensations of nervousness as excitement (they're physiologically identical!). Most importantly, you'll discover that courage isn't about eliminating fear but about feeling it and moving forward anyway.

Whether you're avoiding career advancement, difficult conversations, or personal challenges, this episode offers science-backed strategies to break free from the avoidance cycle and start living boldly. As Dr. Marques wisely says, "Be the water, not the rock." Subscribe now and share this episode with someone who needs to hear this message – together, we can turn avoidance into action.

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The Sage Solutions Podcast and content posted by David Sage is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. No coaching client relationship is formed by listening to this podcast. No Legal, Medical or Financial advice is being given. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a psychotherapist, physician, professional coach, Lawyer or other qualified professional. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. The opinions of guests are their own and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the podcast.