Most people think they’re not starting because they don’t have enough time, clarity, or confidence… but that’s not the real reason.

It’s that starting feels risky. And your brain is wired to treat that risk (especially rejection) as a threat.

In this Lab Notes episode of Next Door Neuro, I break down why something as simple as asking for a free coffee can feel so uncomfortable, and what that reveals about how your brain processes rejection.

More importantly, I walk through how to retrain that response so you can stop avoiding risk… and start taking action instead.

In this episode:

• Why your brain treats rejection like a threat (and where that comes from)
• How avoidance reinforces fear and keeps you stuck
• Why confidence and clarity don’t come before action - they come from it
• How exposure rewires your brain’s threat response over time
• Why most people never start (and what’s actually driving that hesitation)

Try this:

• Say it out loud: “I’m new to this - if I’m missing something, tell me”
• Create small “rejection reps” (ask for something slightly uncomfortable)
• Measure your reps - not your outcomes

🎧 Full conversation with Mark Heckmann mentioned in this episode:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SdqHT3etZs&t=21s

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

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