Avoidance has never been a great tactic in solving any problem.

In the words of Luvvie Ajayi, “Avoidance has never been a great tactic in solving any problem. For most situations in life, not addressing what's going on only makes matters worse.” These are not the words of comfort, but of courage — a call to face truth, to look unflinchingly at what frightens us, and to deal with it before it grows into something monstrous. For in every age, the greatest enemy of peace has not been conflict, but avoidance — the quiet decay that festers when honesty is delayed.

To avoid is to hide from the storm, believing it will pass without touching us. But storms, as the ancients knew, do not vanish; they gather strength. What begins as a whisper of thunder becomes a flood that washes away the unprepared. So too it is with the troubles of the heart, the wounds in friendship, the injustices in the world. When left unspoken, they multiply in the shadows, until they demand to be faced. Avoidance is the art of postponing pain, but postponed pain becomes suffering.

In her words, Luvvie Ajayi, a truth-teller and writer of fearless humor, speaks from the spirit of the griots — the storytellers of old who used words to cut through illusion and awaken the conscience of their people. She reminds us that truth, though uncomfortable, is the medicine of the soul. To address what is wrong is to choose healing over fear, and responsibility over silence. Those who practice avoidance may feel safe in the moment, but they build their safety upon sand. In time, the tide of truth comes to claim what was hidden.

Consider the ancient tale of King Oedipus, who sought to flee his fate. Warned by prophecy that he would slay his father and wed his mother, he fled the land that raised him — only to fulfill the prophecy through his very flight. His tragedy was not in destiny, but in avoidance. Had he faced the truth of who he was and where he came from, perhaps wisdom might have spared him. But by turning from truth, he walked straight into it. Thus the ancients taught: what we refuse to confront, we are doomed to repeat.

There is heroism, then, in facing reality. To look upon what is painful — the broken relationship, the failing task, the injustice ignored — and to say, “I will not hide from this,” is an act of greatness. The warrior’s courage is not always in battle; sometimes it lies in the quiet act of admission: “This is wrong, and I must change it.” The healer cannot cure a wound he will not look at. The leader cannot guide a people whose pain she refuses to acknowledge. Avoidance blinds us; awareness sets us free.

The lesson is eternal: that avoidance is the thief of peace. To solve a problem, one must name it, touch it, and walk through it. Do not let fear persuade you that silence is protection; it is a slow poison. Speak when truth demands it. Act when conscience calls. Face the discomfort before it grows into despair. Problems confronted early are lessons; problems ignored become prisons.

And so, children of the future, take this teaching as your compass: when the shadow of avoidance beckons, walk instead into the light of truth. Whether in love, in work, or in your own heart, do not hide from what is real. Speak gently, but speak. Move carefully, but move. For every moment you face what frightens you, you reclaim a piece of your power. And when at last the storm passes, you will stand not only unharmed, but transformed — purified by the courage that comes only from meeting truth face to face.

Thus, as Luvvie Ajayi teaches, to avoid is to delay healing, but to confront is to awaken the soul. The brave are not those who feel no fear, but those who refuse to bow before it. Therefore, look at your life, find what you have turned away from, and turn back toward it. That first step — honest, trembling, and true — is the beginning of wisdom.