How Long Can You Afford to Avoid What Must Be Done?

By Ivan Barnett | Founder, Serious Play

Santa Fe Skies Number Four, Rooftop.  Image by Ivan Barnett

“Avoidance is not the answer; it is merely the illusion of peace.” — Brené Brown

The Beautiful Trap of Avoidance

If you’re avoiding something right now, you’re not alone. I’ve done it. Every artist, every gallery director, every creative I know has danced with avoidance. It’s human. And when you’re a creative—someone wired to see the world in symbols, patterns, and intuition—you’re even more prone to the seductive pull of putting something off.

The problem isn’t avoidance itself. The problem is how long we live inside it.

There’s a difference between rest and paralysis, between giving yourself space and giving up your agency. Avoidance can be quiet, insidious, even comfortable. But it’s a weight and eventually, that weight stifles your creative voice.

The Science Behind Avoidance: Why We Do It

In a recent Psyche article, researchers explored the phenomenon of “information avoidance”—choosing not to know something that could be distressing. This is particularly true when we sense the information might challenge our self-image or force a difficult decision.

As artists and gallerists, we build identities around the work we do. Facing the uncomfortable—financial strain, lackluster attendance, creative drought—can feel like admitting failure. So we avoid. We keep the gallery open on fumes. We put off launching that new body of work. We don’t ask for help.

But as that article points out, avoidance doesn’t eliminate the threat. It just prolongs our anxiety.

Santa Fe Skies Number Five, Rooftop.  Image by Ivan Barnett

Paralysis Disguised as Pause

When we avoid, we aren’t preserving peace—we’re prolonging tension. The “not knowing” becomes its own source of stress, draining our energy in the background like a leaky faucet.

I’ve seen it firsthand. Artists who haven’t gone near their studio in months. Gallery owners who haven’t reviewed their books since last tax season. Hoping today will be the day that three paintings are sold and I get to live another day. 

Creative avoidance is not laziness. It’s fear. And fear, when left unexamined, turns vibrant energy into chronic fatigue.

The Real Cost of Avoidance

Avoidance is expensive—emotionally, creatively, and financially.

Every hour you spend not sending that email, not revising that budget, not asking for help—is time stolen from your art. From your purpose.

In my work with Serious Play, I see clients who’ve been stuck in limbo, quietly suffering in shame or silence. When they finally open the door, something remarkable happens: their energy returns. The paralysis begins to lift. Not because the problem vanishes, but because they’ve decided to face it.

Santa Fe Skies Number One, Rooftop.  Image by Ivan Barnett

The Compassionate Reframe

If you’re reading this and feeling a pang of recognition—take a breath. This isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness.

Avoidance is a coping mechanism, not a character flaw. It’s how our minds try to protect us. But like any outdated habit, it can be gently unlearned.

At Serious Play, we don’t judge. We guide. We offer structured, empathetic support that meets you where you are. We know how heavy it can feel to carry the thing you’ve been avoiding for too long.

Ask Yourself…

• What am I not looking at because it scares me?
• What would change if I did?
• What story am I telling myself about why I can’t act?

There is power in the asking and clarity in naming the thing. Choose liberation to step toward the fear, rather than away.

Santa Fe Skies Number Six, Rooftop.  Image by Ivan Barnett

What Serious Play Offers

If you’re ready to stop circling the same fears and start reclaiming your creative focus, we’re here for you.

We offer:

• 1:1 strategic coaching for artists and gallerists
• Personalized guidance for overcoming creative and operational blocks
• Business audits that illuminate what’s working—and what’s not
• Story-driven branding and collector engagement strategies
• Emotional support with practical frameworks

Avoidance keeps us small. Attention moves us forward.

The Invitation

If you’ve been waiting for a sign—this is it.

The truth is: you can’t afford to avoid what must be dealt with. Not if your goal is to thrive, to make work that matters, and to build a sustainable future where you are supporting yourself with your art making.

Let’s talk before you’re burned out. Before you’ve run out of options. Before you’ve lost your spark.

Because your creative life deserves your full attention.

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca

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