Aware in an Avoidant World
A think piece for the mindful entrepreneur
The deeper I go into my own self-work, the more I notice how unaware most people are—of themselves, their impact, or the dynamics they're embedded in. Studies confirm it: most people think they’re self-aware, but very few actually are. “According to Eurich (2018), while about 95% of people believe they’re self-aware, only around 10–15% meet the criteria for true self-awareness, as verified by both their own reflections and external feedback.”
And in many ways, our culture rewards that lack of awareness. We reward avoidance. We call it “keeping the peace” or “not making it a big deal.” Avoidance lets people bypass discomfort. It lets them save face. But at what cost?
As someone who feels deeply, observes constantly, and analyzes everything—I’ve spent much of my life believing that my sensitivity was a liability. My hyper-awareness of power dynamics, emotional shifts, and interpersonal subtext felt like a curse. Meanwhile, the ones who seemed to float through life with ease—detached, “cool,” and emotionally unavailable—looked like they had it figured out.
There were times I thought, “If only I could switch off.” If only I didn’t register every subtle shift in energy. If I didn’t know that someone’s tone had changed. If I wasn’t aware of the 6,765 ways my actions could be misinterpreted. If I could be as blissfully unaware as the ones who hurt people without realizing it—and never stay up at night wondering who they disappointed or left behind.
But here's the truth: the hardest part about being conscious in an unconscious world is carrying the burden of other people’s avoidance. You’re the one cleaning up the emotional messes. Smoothing over the social dynamics. Thinking three steps ahead so no one gets hurt. You’re also the one left wondering why you feel so heavy while everyone else seems light.
Avoidant people—whether they’re friends, colleagues, or founders—often get the rewards:
They bulldoze forward, unapologetic, and we call them focused.
They make people work around their moods or schedules, and we call them busy.
They offload emotions onto others without reflection, and they say we’re “too sensitive.”
They ignore the impact of their actions, and we call them carefree or fun.
And when they leave damage behind? Someone else—often the most emotionally intelligent person in the room—is left to explain, apologize, or hold it all together.
But here’s what’s changing:
We are entering an era where awareness is a business advantage. Where self-development isn’t just personal, it’s strategic. And where people are starting to see through the illusion of detachment as strength.
Social media, therapy culture, and generational shifts are making emotional intelligence a requirement, not an afterthought. The “cool kid” archetypes—the ones who were once envied for their aloofness—are being called out, left behind, or made irrelevant. Blake Lively, anyone?
In this new landscape, the mindful entrepreneur has the upper hand.
Here’s why:
Self-aware people have integrity. They know what drives them—and what doesn’t.
They are values-aligned. They don’t hire based on flash or charm. They look for depth, reliability, and character.
They are better leaders. Self-awareness leads to better management, stronger culture, and lower turnover.
They grow. Conscious people look at their blind spots and evolve. They improve systems, themselves, and the people around them.
They minimize risk. Emotionally intelligent leaders are less impulsive, less reactive, and less likely to create liabilities.
They scale with soul. A self-aware founder is like a rose bush in bloom. Given the right tools, they won’t just grow—they’ll keep growing.
Yes, it’s exhausting being the one who sees it all.
Yes, you will sometimes feel too sensitive, too intense, or too awake.
But the world is waking up, too. Slowly. Unevenly. But it’s happening.
And for those of us who’ve always felt “too much”—we were just early.