There’s a stark contrast between facing your problems head-on and running away from them.
The distinction boils down to courage.
Escaping problems is a sign of fear, a way to dodge confrontation with issues that might make you uncomfortable.
Facing them head on, however, requires bravery, resilience, and a willingness to grapple with discomfort for the sake of growth.
Those who consistently avoid their problems exhibit certain behaviors.
As someone who’s committed to personal development, understanding these behaviors can help you identify when you might be shirking challenges instead of tackling them.
Let’s delve into the seven behaviors of people who tend to run away from their problems instead of facing them head on.
Who knows? It might just be the wake-up call you need to start confronting your own obstacles with courage and determination:
1) Procrastination
The first tell-tale sign of someone avoiding their problems is procrastination.
Procrastination is the art of delaying or postponing tasks. And it’s not just about laziness. It’s a complex behavior that involves factors such as fear of failure, a sense of perfectionism, and low self-esteem.
People who procrastinate tend to push aside their issues, claiming they’ll deal with them later.
But ‘later’ often turns into ‘never’, and the problems continue to pile up.
Think about it: It’s like sweeping dust under the carpet.
It might seem like the mess is gone for a while, but it’s still there, lurking beneath the surface.
When confronted with complex decisions or uncomfortable situations, these people will often choose to delay action.
This behavior helps them evade the mental and emotional load of facing their problems head-on.
However, understanding this habit can be a stepping stone towards breaking free from it.
Recognizing procrastination as a form of running away can motivate you to start tackling your issues directly, and ultimately, foster personal growth.
Awareness is just the first step towards change—the real transformation begins when you decide to act on it.
2) Ignoring the issue
Another behavior that’s common among those who avoid their problems is simply ignoring them.
A few years ago, I had a falling out with a close friend.
Instead of addressing the issue head-on, apologizing, and mending the relationship, I chose to ignore it.
I convinced myself that if I didn’t think about it, it wouldn’t affect me.
However, ignoring the issue didn’t make it disappear.
On the contrary, it only intensified my feelings of guilt and anxiety—it was always there, at the back of my mind, casting a shadow on my happiness.
I realized that by ignoring the problem, I was letting it control me.
It was only when I decided to face the issue and talk things out with my friend did I find resolution and peace.
Ignoring an issue is like putting a band-aid on a deep wound.
It might cover the problem for a while, but it doesn’t facilitate healing.
By sharing my personal experience, I hope to inspire you to confront your problems directly rather than ignoring them.
Only then can you truly move forward and foster personal growth.
3) Distraction
Ever noticed how some people always seem to be busy?
They’re constantly on the move, engrossed in endless tasks and activities.
This behavior is known as distraction, and it’s a clever, albeit harmful, way of avoiding problems.
Distraction involves diverting your attention to less significant tasks to avoid dealing with the real issues at hand.
It’s like a magician’s trick—you’re so focused on the shiny object being waved in front of you that you miss the real action happening elsewhere.
In fact, research shows that distracting activities, such as video games, can temporarily relieve pain and discomfort.
However, much like my magician analogy, this relief is only an illusion.
The problem still exists, and sooner or later, it will demand your attention.
Instead of burying yourself in busywork, take a moment to identify why you’re avoiding your problems.
Understanding the root cause is the first step towards addressing it effectively.
4) Denial
Denial is an all-too-common behavior among those who avoid their problems.
It’s a psychological defense mechanism where a person refuses to acknowledge the reality of a situation.
It’s like standing in the rain and insisting you’re not getting wet.
Sure, you might convince yourself for a while, but sooner or later, the evidence will be impossible to ignore.
People use denial as a coping strategy to avoid dealing with painful or uncomfortable situations.
By denying the existence of a problem, they believe they can escape its effects.
Denial doesn’t solve problems, it only delays the inevitable.
It’s like pressing the snooze button on your alarm clock.
You might get a few more minutes of sleep, but eventually, you’ll have to wake up.
The key to overcoming denial is acceptance—it’s only when you accept the reality of a situation that you can start working towards a solution.
Instead of running away from your problems, face them head on and work through them with courage and determination.
5) Blaming others
I remember a time when I was leading a project at work and it didn’t go as planned.
Instead of taking responsibility for my part in the failure, I found it easier to blame my team members for not pulling their weight.
Blaming others is a common way people avoid dealing with their problems.
It’s easier to point fingers at others than to look inward and accept that you might be part of the problem.
However, blaming others is not only a way to escape responsibility, it also prevents personal growth as it creates a barrier that hinders you from learning from your failures and moving forward.
It took me a while to realize that by blaming others, I was only sabotaging my own growth.
Accepting my mistakes and learning from them turned out to be a much more productive approach.
Remember, taking responsibility is not about feeling guilty or beating yourself up.
It’s about understanding that you have the power to influence your circumstances and make better choices in the future.
6) Avoiding difficult conversations
Confrontation isn’t easy.
It’s uncomfortable, often awkward, and can lead to conflict but, sometimes, it’s necessary.
People who run away from their problems often avoid difficult conversations.
They might dodge discussions that involve criticism, negative feedback or uncomfortable truths; they prefer to maintain a facade of harmony rather than face potential discord.
However, avoiding these conversations doesn’t make the issues disappear.
By facing these challenging conversations head on, you give yourself an opportunity to address issues before they spiral out of control.
It’s not easy, but it’s a key step towards personal growth and improved relationships.
Growth often occurs in discomfort, so don’t shy away from the tough talks.
7) Living in the past or future
Living in the past or future is a common behavior among those who avoid their problems.
They’re either caught up in past regrets or anxiously anticipating future scenarios.
This prevents them from dealing with the present issues at hand.
But here’s the thing: You can’t change the past, and you can’t control the future.
The only moment you can truly impact is the present. So instead of dwelling on what was or what might be, focus on what is.
Deal with your issues as they arise, rather than postponing them for a future date or wishing you could change past decisions.
Problems are a part of life—they’re not pleasant, but they’re instrumental in shaping who we are.
Stop running away from them.
Face them head on, learn from them, and use them as stepping stones to personal growth and self-improvement.
Final thoughts: It’s about growth
The journey of human behavior and personal development is complex and ever-evolving.
At the heart of this journey is the concept of growth.
One key aspect of growth is the ability to face our problems head-on, rather than running away from them.
Acknowledging our issues, accepting their existence, and choosing to confront them brings about personal growth.
It helps us evolve, fostering resilience and strength.
Whether it’s procrastination, denial, or avoidance of hard conversations, recognizing these behaviors in ourselves is the first step towards change.
The next time you find yourself avoiding a problem, pause for a moment and reflect on what’s holding you back.
It’s only when we face our challenges head-on that we truly grow!
