Why Do We Ignore the Painful Truth About Our Health and Money Issues?
Ever notice how humans can be absolute masterminds at avoiding reality? We’ll convince ourselves that the suspicious clunking noise from our car will "just go away," or that the mystery pain in our back is "probably nothing" (even though it’s been there since 2019). When it comes to health and money issues, our powers of denial are unparalleled. But why do we do this? And more importantly, how do we stop?
Let’s look into the psychology of avoidance, laugh at our collective human weirdness, and maybe even walk away with a plan to face our issues head-on.
The "If I Don’t See It, It’s Not There" Phenomenon
You’re familiar with this one. That financial plan? Yep, if we wait long enough the overspending and paying too much tax will fix itself, it’s basically will fix itself. The weird mole on your arm? If you don’t look at it too closely, it’s probably just "sun damage."
Why We Do It: Our brains are wired to avoid discomfort. Thanks to evolution, we’re programmed to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy. Confronting health issues, debt, or financial uncertainty triggers our "threat detection system." Instead of fighting or fleeing, we freeze. Our brains think, "Nope, this looks dangerous. Let’s just pretend it’s not there." This is called "Avoidance Coping," and it’s surprisingly common.
The Downside: Spoiler alert: Avoidance doesn’t make the mole disappear. It also doesn’t pay down debt or make back pain go away. Avoidance makes the problem worse. That mole grows (literally), that back pain worsens, and the interest on that credit card? It’s doing backflips while you’re "not looking."
How to Snap Out of It:
Start with a micro-action. Instead of "fixing everything," just open the letter. Book one doctor’s appointment. You’re not committing to a life overhaul—you’re just opening a door.
"I Have No Control, So What’s the Point?" (aka Learned Helplessness)
When people feel like they’ve "tried everything" and nothing worked, they’re prone to throwing in the towel. "I’ll never get out of debt." "I’ll always be unhealthy." Sound familiar? It’s called "learned helplessness," a psychological trap that’s more stubborn than a toddler at bedtime.
Why We Do It: Back in the 1960s, a psychologist named Martin Seligman did a (slightly cruel) experiment with dogs. He found that when dogs were repeatedly exposed to unavoidable pain, they stopped trying to escape even when an escape route was made available. Humans are no different. When you’ve tried budgeting before and it didn’t work or tried to lose weight only to regain it, your brain says, "Why bother? It’s hopeless."
The Downside: Believing you have no control guarantees that you’ll stay stuck. It’s like sitting in a car that’s out of gas and thinking, "Well, I guess I’ll just live here now." You’re not helpless—you’re stuck in a thinking trap.
How to Snap Out of It:
Look for "controllables." You can’t pay off all your debt in one day, but you can call the credit card company and ask for a lower interest rate. You can’t "get healthy" instantly, but you can go for a 10-minute walk.
Remind yourself of past wins. You’ve overcome hard stuff before. Bet on yourself.
The "Busy Work Band-Aid" Approach (A.K.A. Fake Progress)
"I’m working on it! Look, I’m organizing my workout clothes!" Humans are champions of "productive procrastination." When the real problem feels too big or scary, we’ll do something tangentially related and call it "progress."
Why We Do It: This is our brain’s sneaky way of feeling accomplished without addressing the root issue. Why face the anxiety of starting a workout routine when you can "prepare" by buying a new water bottle and downloading five fitness apps? Why budget when you can "research" financial planners (but never call them)?
The Downside: It’s the equivalent of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. You’re "busy," but you’re not making meaningful progress. Worse, you’re burning energy that could’ve been used for actual problem-solving.
How to Snap Out of It:
Ask: Is this action directly attacking the root issue, or is it just making me feel productive?
Set a "Next Action" that’s embarrassingly small. For health, it might be "do 5 push-ups or 10-minute walk." For money, it might be "move $20 to savings." Small actions build momentum.
What’s the Solution? (No, It’s Not "Be More Disciplined")
Reframe the Stakes: Ask, "What’s the cost of doing nothing?" This ties into Kahneman’s insight on availability bias. Visualize the "shark" of credit card interest or health risks looming below the surface.
Build Systems, Not Willpower: Use Daniel Crosby’s concept of commitment devices. Automate savings, schedule health check-ups, or set reminders that "lock in" good behavior.
Identity-Based Habits: Borrow James Clear’s insight and shift your identity. Say, "I am the type of person who faces problems head-on." This makes your actions feel more authentic and less forced.
Look for the Tipping Point: Gladwell’s insight on tipping points suggests that small wins add up. Break down big tasks into small, momentum-building actions—like paying down $100 of debt or working out for 10 minutes.
You’re Not Broken
If you’re ignoring health or money issues, welcome to the human experience. Avoidance is normal—but it’s not helpful. You’re not "lazy" or "undisciplined"—you’re human. The trick is to outsmart your brain’s alarm system.
Start small. Open the letter. Move the $20. Book the appointment. Momentum isn’t magic—it’s physics. An object in motion stays in motion, and it’s time to get moving.
*ChatGPT may have been used in developing this article