We all avoid things. The uncomfortable conversation. The phone call we don't want to make. Speaking up in a meeting when we're not completely sure of the answer. Taking on something new where we might fail. Most of these decisions seem harmless, and in the moment they can actually feel good. You decide not to make the call and immediately feel a little less stressed. You postpone the conversation and feel relieved. That relief is exactly why avoidance can become so powerful.

You might think that by now we would have the human body pretty well mapped. Surprisingly, scientists are still discovering new ways our bodies are connected. One of the most interesting involves something called the interstitium. Think of it as a body wide network of tiny, fluid filled spaces supported by connective tissue that surrounds our organs, blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. Scientists have known about interstitial tissue for a long time, but newer research suggest