reptilian	brain	doesn’t	know	this,	and	may	react	to	your	fear	with	a	fight-or-
flight	response	that’s	unhelpful	in	a	professional	setting.
In
	
other	words,	the	fight-or-flight	response	can	be	triggered	even	when
real	danger	doesn’t	lurk.	Once	the	information	regarding	the	perception	of
danger	makes	its	way	to	our	more	evolved	“upstairs	brain,”	we’re	able	to
rationally	determine	what	level	of	risk	the	threat	truly	poses,	as	well	as
problem	solve	and	act	strategically.	But	we	have	to	give	that	information	a
chance	to	get	there,	without	getting	stuck	in	the	response	generated	by	our
reptilian	brain.
When	Avoidance	Becomes	the	Problem
Ask	yourself	if	you	reflexively	avoid	or	overreact	to	things	that	pose	no	real
danger	to	you.	Things	that,	had	you	paused	and	considered	more	carefully,
you	might	have	realized	weren’t	actually	such	a	big	deal.
By	avoiding	the	things	or	situations	that	trigger	you,	you’re	essentially
deciding	that	they	are	too	much	for	you	to	manage,	when	in	reality	you	could
deal	with	them.	This	diminishing	ability	to	believe	in	yourself	only	increases
future	avoidance.	Among	other	misleading	thoughts,	your	anxious	mind
probably	seriously	underestimates	your	capabilities	(more	on	this	in