You understand why you avoid.
You see the pattern.
And you're still doing it.
In this episode, Kim Polinder explores the frustrating gap between self-awareness and actual change — and why insight alone rarely leads to different behavior.
Rather than framing change as a decision or a motivation problem, this conversation breaks down procrastination as a capacity issue. Kim walks through four common "false fixes" people rely on when they're trying to change — strategies that look responsible on the surface but quietly reinforce avoidance.
Using real-life relational examples, nervous system science, and practical reframes, this episode explains why waiting to feel calm, trying to be perfect, forcing yourself through hard moments, or endlessly consuming self-help content often backfires.
The focus is not on fixing yourself, but on building emotional capacity: the ability to stay present with discomfort, repair when things go sideways, and stop turning one hard moment into a verdict about who you are.
Timestamps & Topics
[00:00:00] – The Conundrum: Why self-awareness doesn't change behavior.
[00:01:39] – Defining Capacity: Why change requires extreme discomfort.
[00:02:48] – False Fix #1: Waiting to feel calm or "ready" before acting.
[00:03:59] – False Fix #2: The perfectionism trap and the cost of "doing it right".
[00:06:50] – False Fix #3: Forcing exposure without a support system.
[00:08:45] – Pausing to Avoid vs. Pausing to Build Capacity.
[00:14:09] – False Fix #4: Searching for the "Golden Key" of insight.
[00:16:40] – Short-term relief vs. Long-term training of the nervous system.
[00:19:35] – Why willpower fails under emotional threat.
[00:22:00] – Compassionate Curiosity: How to stop abandoning yourself.
[00:24:37] – Why we lose access to our skills when triggered.
[00:27:13] – The Lab Partner: The necessity of community and repair.
[00:29:14] – Invitation to the Virtual Cohort: Building capacity in real-time.
Kim's website: https://www.kimpolinder.com/
Kim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kp_counseling/
Kim's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineeringlovepodcast
