Shrink For The Shy Guy

April 15, 2025

The Freedom of Being Disliked

April 8, 2025

3 Secrets To Get Yourself To Take Action Now

<p class="">Welcome to today’s episode of Shrink for the Shy Guy with Dr. Aziz! If you’ve ever felt stuck, procrastinated, or told yourself “I should…” but still didn’t follow through — this episode is for you.</p> <p class="">Dr. Aziz reveals the <strong>three powerful secrets</strong> to breaking out of avoidance and finally taking the action you know will move your life forward. Whether it’s social confidence, career growth, health habits, or daily routines — it all comes back to one key truth:</p> <p class=""><strong>Confidence is a byproduct of action.</strong></p> <p class="">In this episode, you’ll discover:</p> <ul> <li class=""> <p class="">Why resistance, groaning, and procrastination are totally normal (and how to break through them)</p> </li> <li class=""> <p class="">The surprising way your <strong>identity story</strong> might be keeping you stuck</p> </li> <li class=""> <p class="">How to use <strong>pain as powerful leverage</strong> (yes, really!)</p> </li> <li class=""> <p class="">The missing piece that makes it way easier to follow through</p> </li> <li class=""> <p class="">Why <strong>pleasure in the future</strong> is the key to taking action today</p> </li> </ul> <p class="">Dr. Aziz also shares his personal story of emotional pain, transformation, and how one pivotal night in his 20s changed everything. If you're ready to overcome avoidance and create a life that energizes and fulfills you, this episode will give you both the mindset and momentum to start now.</p> <p class=""><br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br><br></p> <p class="">Do you often find yourself stuck in the cycle of procrastination, avoiding tasks that you know could improve your life? Whether it's taking social risks, having difficult conversations, or simply getting things done, we all face moments when it feels impossible to take action. In this post, I’m going to reveal the <strong>three secrets</strong> to breaking free from inaction and boosting your confidence.</p> <h3 class="">Secret #1: Recognize the Pattern</h3> <p class="">The first step in overcoming procrastination and avoidance is to <strong>recognize the cycle</strong> you’re in. It often starts with the feeling of <strong>fear</strong>—fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of discomfort. You know you should act, but instead, you avoid the task. You tell yourself “I should,” but you don’t follow through. This internal tension leads to <strong>resistance</strong>, and eventually, you may find yourself stuck in a <strong>negative identity</strong>—thinking of yourself as someone who just can’t follow through or is too scared to act.</p> <p class="">The first secret is <strong>to notice this pattern</strong>. Acknowledge that you’re caught in it and make the decision to do something different. The more you notice it, the more you can break free from it and start acting from a place of <strong>empowerment</strong>, not fear.</p> <p class=""><strong>"Confidence is a byproduct of action. You won’t feel confident until you take action."</strong> — Dr. Aziz</p> <h3 class="">Secret #2: Use Pain as Leverage</h3> <p class="">Pain is one of the most powerful motivators for action. In fact, research shows that we are <strong>twice as motivated by pain</strong> as we are by pleasure. The key is to <strong>leverage pain</strong> in a constructive way.</p> <p class="">Ask yourself: <strong>What is the cost of inaction?</strong> If you keep avoiding something, where will it take you? In the case of social anxiety, it might be loneliness or missed career opportunities. By focusing on the <strong>pain of staying stuck</strong>, you can create a sense of urgency and motivate yourself to act.</p> <p class="">However, it's essential to <strong>not get lost in despair</strong> when reflecting on this pain. Instead, take ownership of the situation and realize that you can change things. <strong>When the pain of staying where you are exceeds the fear of the unknown</strong>, you’ll finally take the leap.</p> <h3 class="">Secret #3: Focus on the Pleasure of Action</h3> <p class="">While pain can push you to act, <strong>pleasure</strong> is what will keep you going. We often resist action because we focus on the discomfort of getting started, but if you <strong>shift your focus to the benefits</strong> of taking action, you’ll find yourself motivated.</p> <p class="">For example, if you’re avoiding a workout because it feels hard to start, remind yourself of how good you’ll feel afterward—<strong>the energy, the sense of accomplishment, the pride in doing something for yourself</strong>. By training your mind to <strong>see the pleasure on the other side</strong>, you’ll feel more compelled to take action.</p> <p class=""><strong>"Are you willing to be uncomfortable now to experience the extraordinary in your life?"</strong> — Dr. Aziz</p> <h3 class="">Taking Action: Your Next Step</h3> <p class="">Now that you know the three secrets to taking action, it’s time to put them into practice. Start by recognizing the patterns that hold you back, use pain and pleasure to motivate yourself, and <strong>take action even when it feels uncomfortable</strong>.</p> <p class="">If you want to make real progress in your life, <strong>the key is consistent action</strong>. The more you act, the more confidence you’ll build. It’s time to break free from the cycle of procrastination and start living boldly.</p> <p class="">Remember, <strong>confidence comes from doing</strong>—not waiting for the perfect moment or feeling ready. <strong>Take action today</strong>, and watch your confidence grow! You are capable of so much more than you realize. Keep going, and you'll soon be amazed at how far you can go.</p> <p><span class="">&nbsp;</span><span class="">&nbsp;</span><span class="">&nbsp;</span><span class="">&nbsp;</span><span class="hidden">&nbsp;</span> <span class="overflow-hidden text-sm text-clip whitespace-nowrap">4o mini</span> &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

April 1, 2025

Breaking The Anxiety Cycle

<p>In today’s episode, Dr. Aziz dives deep into the hidden cycle that fuels your worry and anxiety—especially when it comes to social situations, work, dating, money, health, and more. If you’ve ever wondered why anxiety keeps coming back despite trying tools like affirmations, meditation, or even medication, this episode is for you.</p> <p>You’ll discover:</p> <ul> <li class="">The <strong>5-part anxiety loop</strong> that drives your fear and fuels the need to control everything</li> <li class="">Why the real issue isn’t the fear itself, but <strong>how you relate to it</strong></li> <li class="">How to spot where you are in the cycle so you can break free in real time</li> <li class="">The power of <strong>self-awareness and softening</strong>, instead of resistance and control</li> <li class="">One simple but powerful <strong>action step</strong> to find relief—starting today</li> </ul> <p>Dr. Aziz reveals how recognizing this cycle (Fear → Urge to Do → Prevent the Bad → Avoid Pain → More Fear) can unlock lasting freedom and peace. Tune in now and take the first step toward living with more presence, ease, and inner confidence.</p> <p>🎧 Ready to finally stop fighting anxiety and start living? Press play now.<br><br>------------------------------------------</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless loop of worry and anxiety? Maybe you're overthinking conversations, feeling uneasy about upcoming events, or imagining worst-case scenarios. This constant cycle of fear and worry can feel overwhelming, but there’s a way out.</p> <p>In today’s post, we’re diving deep into how anxiety works and, more importantly, how you can start breaking free from it. Let’s explore how to stop worrying, be more present, and create lasting peace of mind.</p> <p><strong><br>The Anxiety Cycle: Fear, Action, and Pain</strong></p> <p>It all starts with <strong>fear</strong>—the feeling we all know too well. When we feel anxious, whether it’s about a social situation, work stress, or personal struggles, we experience fear. It’s that tightness in your chest, the flutter in your stomach, or the constant, buzzing thoughts in your head. The immediate reaction to this fear is often the urge to <strong>do something</strong>—anything to make it stop. We might try to control the situation, over-prepare, or replay conversations in our minds, trying to plan every possible outcome.</p> <p>This urgency to act comes from the desire to <strong>avoid pain</strong>. Whether it’s the emotional pain of rejection, embarrassment, or failure, we act to prevent those outcomes. But the irony is, the more we try to control and avoid pain, the more we trap ourselves in this cycle.</p> <p><strong>"Fear leads to the urge to do something, which is often about preventing bad outcomes. But what are we really protecting ourselves from? Pain."<br><br></strong></p> <p><strong>What Happens Next?</strong></p> <p>Once we’ve acted or worried about acting, we eventually arrive at the one thing we’ve been trying to avoid—<strong>pain</strong>. It could be the pain of failure, rejection, or even just the discomfort of uncertainty. And here’s the twist: we’re so afraid of pain that we spend most of our energy trying to protect ourselves from it.</p> <p>But what if we stopped trying to avoid pain altogether? What if, instead of controlling, we embraced <strong>impermanence</strong> and allowed ourselves to experience life’s inevitable ups and downs? As Buddhist teachings remind us, <strong>everything in life changes</strong>, including pain. The pain we fear is often temporary, and yet, we treat it like a permanent threat.</p> <p><strong>"The fear of pain keeps us stuck in a cycle of worry and control. But what if we embraced the fact that pain, like everything else, is temporary?"<br><br></strong></p> <p><strong>Breaking the Cycle: The Power of Observation</strong></p> <p>So how do we break this cycle? It starts with <strong>observation</strong>. The first step is noticing where you are in the cycle of anxiety. Are you stuck in fear, urgently trying to do something? Are you trying to protect yourself from pain or a bad outcome? By becoming aware of these patterns, you can begin to step out of the cycle.</p> <p>Next, try to <strong>soften the need for control</strong>. Recognize that, while some things in life are out of your hands, this doesn’t mean you’re powerless. You don’t need to control every outcome to feel okay. You can still act, but from a place of inspiration, not fear. Start practicing this mindset shift by simply observing your thoughts and reactions when anxiety arises.</p> <p><strong>"By observing the cycle of fear, action, and pain, we can break free from the need to control and start embracing life's natural flow."</strong></p> <p><strong><br>The Action Step: Embrace the Impermanence of Pain</strong></p> <p>As your action step today, when you notice anxiety or worry creeping in, pause and ask yourself: <strong>“What am I trying to control? Am I trying to prevent pain or avoid something that might not even happen?”</strong> Recognize that life is full of ups and downs, and some of the pain we fear is inevitable. But that doesn’t mean we can’t navigate it with peace and resilience.</p> <p>Instead of reacting out of fear, act from a place of <strong>acceptance</strong> and <strong>curiosity</strong>. It’s okay to feel discomfort or uncertainty. By embracing this, you’ll free yourself from the constant cycle of worry and begin to live more fully in the present.</p>