AtB Avoiding Avoidance Accountability Letter

Hey everyone!

To continue a loose series of cathartic letters in this group...

Are you avoiding something right now? You know, that ONE THING that's looming over you, that fills you with dread? Or maybe you even really enjoy what you're avoiding, but you just can't get started.

If you're like me, this is actually most things I need and want to do, but for this swap, just pick one, and answer these questions in a letter to your partner.

It can be handwritten or typed, though typing might be easier so you can copy/paste the questions. I would request that you put genuine effort into it, though, and write at least one or two pages.

Here are the questions!

1. What is the One Thing you're avoiding?

2. Why are you avoiding this thing? Is it perfectionism? Fear of rejection? One step that takes way too much effort?

3. How is avoiding this thing affecting you? Think both short-term and long-term.

4. Imagine what it would be like to have already completed this thing. Not that you can predict the future, but at least regarding having gotten it done--how would your life look differently?

5. What's one small step you can take to either address your resistance (see question 2) or the problem/thing you're avoiding itself? Take that step and tell your partner how it went.

(Extra credit) Did you manage to complete the dreaded task? It's all right to say "not quite yet," but this is partly an accountability swap, so feel free to keep trying and report back later. :)

Feel free to get thoughtful and personal on this. At the same time, though, be considerate of your partner's privacy in your rating comments just in case they don't want to make personal stuff public.

Let's get things done together! :)