S2:E43 When Good Intentions Don't Become Action

Breaking the Avoidance Cycle: Taking Meaningful Action After Life Changes Laura Mangum Broome hosts the Flourishing After Adversity podcast and explores why people delay actions that could improve life after grief, illness, loss, divorce, or unexpected change. Using examples of learning piano and a divorced woman, Susan, avoiding a women’s group luncheon, she explains the avoidance cycle: anticipating discomfort, postponing, feeling temporary relief, and staying stuck. She distinguishes intentional waiting (rest, grieving, gathering information) from avoidance driven by escaping emotions like rejection, mistakes, or uncertainty.  She offers three strategies: identify what feeling you’re avoiding, decide whether waiting is helping or hurting, and make the experience more manageable through smaller steps and support. She also notes procrastination can signal a goal no longer fits current values and shares a four-question “avoidance versus action” reflection exercise, plus a free guide at iCope2Hope.com/reframe. 00:00 Why We Keep Waiting 01:01 Podcast Welcome 01:26 Episode Roadmap 02:26 Free Reframe Guide 03:05 Piano Practice Metaphor 05:29 Susan and Social Anxiety 07:02 The Avoidance Cycle 08:31 When Waiting Is Healthy 09:12 My Resilience Lessons 11:03 Step 1 Name the Fear 12:50 Step 2 Waiting vs Avoidance 14:47 Step 3 Make It Easier 16:34 When Goals No Longer Fit 18:24 Avoidance vs Action Exercise 20:38 Key Takeaways Recap 21:56 Return to the Piano 22:44 Final Encouragement 23:53 Resources and Closing - **Free Resource:** Reframe the Spiral: 5 Quick Coping Strategies to Shift Negative Thoughts and Reclaim Your Day https://www.icope2hope.com/reframe - **My Book: Flourishing After Adversity: A 3-Step Action Plan to Transform Pain Into Purpose and Embrace Joy Again** https://a.co/d/06XoGiNd - **Move Beyond Adversity Blog:** https://www.icope2hope.com/blog - **Sign Up for Free Newsletter —** Wednesday's Resilient Recharge: https://www.icope2hope.com/newsletter - **Schedule a Free 15-Minute Clarity Call With Laura:** https://bit.ly/15mincallLMB - **Website —** iCope2Hope: From Hardship to Hope: https://www.icope2hope.com