The Unmistakable Creative Podcast Andy Molinsky: The Three Cs That Help You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
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Apr 29, 2026 
Andy Molinsky, a Brandeis professor and author who studies social psychology and cultural adaptability, explains why we avoid tough situations. He outlines conviction, customization, and clarity as ways to push past fear. Short stories and practical examples show how small tweaks make uncomfortable moves possible.
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Five Psychological Roadblocks To Risk Taking
- Stepping outside your comfort zone usually stems from five psychological roadblocks.
- Andy Molinsky names them: authenticity, likability, competence, resentment, and morality, with authenticity/likability/competence most common.
Avoidance Is A Primitive Self Protection
- Avoidance is a biologically rooted self-protection mechanism, useful for real threats but maladaptive for social fears.
- Andy frames avoidance like running from a bear—helpful historically but harmful when the 'bear' is public speaking.
Call Out Your Avoidance Moves
- Notice and name your personal avoidance strategies so you can change them.
- Andy lists common tactics: saying no, doing only palatable parts, substituting less effective actions, passing tasks to others, or rationalizing away importance.