At some point in your life, you have ignored the “check engine” light in your car. You noticed it on your way to school, fluorescent orange, bright as day, and yet you pretended it wasn’t there, turned the volume up on your stereo and prayed to high heavens that you could make it without your car breaking down. Instead of getting your car fixed, however, it became a game of how long will the car go before I have to take it to the mechanic. A week? A month? Till inspection? Who knows! And if it’s running, who cares!

Likewise, there are times that we apply the same mindset to decisions involving ourselves. Take, for example, the girl who pretends that her abusive relationship is all right. Who justifies pain with the suffering associated with being in love. Who can’t tell the difference between reliability and manipulation, charm and deceit. Red flags flash before her, friends try to explain to her what she deserves, yet she rolls her eyes and tries tries tries not to think about it too much.

There have been times where I was fully aware that my body was worn out. I found myself studying at my desk till four in the morning, night after night because I thought that it was benefiting me. Sure, I was mentally and physically exhausted, but that didn’t seem to matter. As long as I was surviving, I didn’t care if I was doing harm to my body.

But when does it stop? Eventually the girl gets hurt. Eventually I had a mental breakdown. Eventually the car doesn’t start. As a generation, we have become so used to the idea of ignoring problems until we have no choice but to confront them. We like to wait until the last minute, the breaking point, the end of the line, to finally admit there’s an issue and do something about it. Why is this? Is it laziness? In some instances this might be true, but not always. In many cases we put off dealing with our problems because confrontation solidifies the reality of the issue. If the girl pretends that her abusive relationship is okay, then to her it will appear that way. As long as I make it by, I don’t care how much sleep I get. If the car is working, then does the check engine light even matter?

What we choose to confront and ignore shapes our perception of what is real. By ignoring our problems we gain a false sense of control, a false understanding of the current situation. But it doesn’t last. Everything’s fine until it isn’t. In order to have as much control of your life as possible, take charge. Face issues immediately! Sleep! Don’t be ruled by the fear and anxiety of your own problems—instead, diminish fear by handling situations before they worsen.