The Ostrich Reflex: Why Avoidance Isn’t Immunity
In recovery circles, there’s a recurring reflex I call the ostrich reflex—
The instinct to bury your head in the sand when faced with politics, business, profit motives, success, failure, or mission logic.
It’s like if you can’t see it, hear it, or acknowledge it,
Then it’s not real.
And therefore can’t tempt you or upset your emotional state.
But that’s not immunity.
That’s avoidance.
It’s like a toddler whose mother never lets them play in the dirt.
They build no antibodies.
And spend the rest of their life sick.
Emotional Immunity Requires Exposure
Recovery isn’t about hiding from the world.
It’s about learning how to live in it—
With discernment, clarity, and spiritual traction.
Avoidance creates fragility.
Exposure builds resilience.
You don’t need to worship capitalism, politics, or mission logic.
But you do need to engage with them.
Because they shape the environment you live in.
And ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear.
It just makes you unprepared.
Recovery Is Where the Fruit Grows
Even when your thinking drifts toward economics, politics, or business logic—
Thread it back to recovery.
Because that’s where the fruit grows.
Recovery is the soil.
Grace is the fruit.
And the world is the weather system.
You don’t control the weather.
But you can build a root system that holds.
About Jason Bresnehan
Jason is a fixer—of businesses, of broken momentum, and occasionally of entire spiritual frameworks gone sideways. He speaks fluent boardroom and AA, deploys Catholic doctrine with the subtlety of a scalpel, and isn’t afraid to lace his insights with both war-room metaphors and dad-sermon tenderness.
Founder of Evahan, a consultancy built on the idea that legacy and liquidity don’t need to fight, Jason draws on 30 years of commercial grit, tactical leadership, and emotional radar to help people rebuild what entropy took. He works with companies, communities, and recovery misfits alike—often using the same principles to sort both cap tables and chaotic lives.
Jason draws deep inspiration from historical figures who got results—especially those who led from the margins, built with scarce resources, and refused to be shackled by conventional wisdom. He’s known for assembling unorthodox teams of passionate experts to solve complex problems in chaotic environments. Whether in boardrooms, recovery communities, or legacy disputes, Jason’s approach is rooted in common purpose, tactical innovation, and the belief that clarity thrives when paradigms are challenged.
A strong advocate for freedom, limited government, and enterprise-driven progress, Jason also draws deeply from his personal recovery journey—an experience that reshaped his life and fuels his commitment to growth, contribution, and principled living. Through writing, speaking, and service, he continues to learn, share, and speak with purpose.
I can be engaged (on a remunerated or volunteer basis) to sit on Boards, Committees, Advisory and Reference Group Panels, and to speak to Business, Community, and Youth groups. I’m also open to providing comment to media on topics where I have relevant experience or insight. Please feel free to make contact.