Talk:And the Winner Is.../@comment-2219232-20120512191633/@comment-24.0.243.181-20120513022713

I think its because she's said it herself: spirituality doesn't come as easily. Airbenders were the most spiritual people, and Aang was a spiritual person as a result. He was very in touch and sensitive to the spirit world, which is why his avatar state probably activated a lot as a defense mechanism.

Korra is not very spiritual and is more physical, as evidenced in the episode Voice in the Night. Instead of sitting and facing her fears, she pushes her emotions aside and throws herself into physical exercise and work, like practicing airbending. Her moments of stress (when she's completely frightened by Amon, when she is suddenly electrocuted and needs to defend herself) probably trigger that defense and bring her closer to becoming a more spiritual person. When she is most in touch with her emotions she is more spiritual, and this connects her briefly to her past LIFE (rather than past LIVES, and, thus the avatar state).