If You’re Avoiding Something, Read This
- Written By: Melanie Borden
- July 25, 2025
We call it burnout or overwhelm. But often, it’s just this one thing.
MAKE THE CONNECTION
If you’ve been feeling unmotivated, tired, or unsure of your next move—
It might not be burnout.
It might be avoidance.
And what you’re avoiding?
That’s the thing holding your brand (and business) back.
I’ve seen this pattern across every level—founders, execs, consultants, creators:
→ They say they’re stuck
→ But what’s really happening is they’re avoiding something they know matters
Not because they don’t care.
But because it feels unclear, risky, or uncomfortable.
This week, I want to help you name it, shift it, and get back into motion.
What You’ll Learn in This Issue:
✅ Why your “stuck” season might be a decision you’re dodging
✅ How to build clarity without blowing everything up
✅ A micro-structure to use when you don’t know what to do next
What Stuck Really Looks Like
It’s not always loud.
Sometimes stuck looks like:
- Over-researching instead of reaching out
- Drafting 5 posts but never hitting publish
- Making big plans with no deadlines
- Waiting for it to “feel right”
Sound familiar?
Try This: 3 Steps to Get Unstuck This Week:
1
Step 1: Name the Thing You’re Avoiding
Ask yourself:
→ What’s the one move I keep delaying?
→ What am I pretending I need “more time” for?
Usually, that’s where the next breakthrough is hiding.
Not in more ideas—just in the action you haven’t taken yet.
2
Step 2: Get Clarity, Not Just Energy
Motivation fades fast. Clarity sticks. Pick one next move:
Write the email
Make the offer
Post the opinion
Have the hard conversation
Pro Tip: You don’t need a new strategy. You need a smaller step.
3
Step 3: Build a Micro-Structure
When everything is in your head, momentum dies.
Use a visible plan—even a simple one:
→ What am I doing this week to move?
→ When is it happening?
→ Who’s holding me accountable?
Set the rule. Keep the promise. Move again.
“Clarity is the elimination of mental clutter.”
— Steve Maraboli
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Ask Yourself This:
What’s the one thing I’d stop avoiding if I trusted it would work?
That’s where your growth is.
It’s not louder. It’s clearer.
Let me know if this newsletter helped you today!
With Clarity,
Melanie Borden
“Melanie is an incredible personal branding resource. I knew what I wanted to convey, but wasn’t sure how to simplify and streamline it; I was all over the place. One 1:1 with Melanie was well worth the investment, as she helped me clear the clutter in my head and narrow the focus to simplify the core messaging around me and my business.”
Stacey Kauffman, Founder, SK Collective
