Every leader knows this moment:
You know exactly what needs to be done — and you still don’t do it.
Here’s the real truth:
You’re not avoiding the task.
You’re avoiding the emotion attached to the task — the discomfort, confrontation, uncertainty, or fear.
Avoidance isn’t laziness. It’s emotional protection.
And that’s why Phil Stutz created the third discipline: Expansive Discipline — the discipline of walking toward what your emotions want you to run from.
I am Chris Hunsicker, and this is the Dealership War Room Leadership Fire — seven minutes built daily, fueled intentionally, and delivered relentlessly.
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Structural discipline keeps you steady.
Reactive discipline keeps you regulated.
Expansive discipline makes you grow.
Your body feels avoidance before your brain invents excuses:
the tight throat, pit in your stomach, shallow breath, tension in the jaw.
Then the excuses show up:
“I’ll do it later.”
“They’re stressed.”
“I need more info.”
The problem isn’t the task — it’s the emotion.
And your team sees your avoidance. Always.
Avoidance destroys trust, culture, urgency, and eventually, your identity.
Avoidance creates guilt → guilt turns to shame → shame creates paralysis → paralysis shrinks identity.
That’s the avoidance spiral.
Here’s the mindset shift that frees you:
Avoidance doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you haven’t trained your courage yet.
Don’t wait to feel brave.
Act your way into bravery.
When you know the thing you’ve been avoiding, give yourself:
10 seconds.
Feel the fear — and step anyway.
Make the call. Start the conversation. Set the boundary. Tell the truth.
Courage isn't a feeling.
Courage is obedience to your higher self.
When you walk toward discomfort:
The power isn’t just the result — it’s who you become.
Tomorrow we stack all three disciplines — structure, regulation, and courage — into the Unbreakable Leader Stack.
Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding.
Write it down.
Take one action within 10 seconds.
Say it:
“If I’m avoiding it, it’s the door I need to walk through.”
If you want daily courage prompts and accountability, text discipline to the number on the screen for our AI Execution Assistant.
Go out today, step toward the thing you’ve been avoiding,
create some leadership fire,
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