When you're presented with a fresh opportunity or change in your life, the biggest challenge you’re going to face is “resistance.”. Ever wondered why?
What exactly is this hidden power of resistance? And how can I control it so that I can easily pursue my ultimate dreams?
Originally, no one ever told me about the existence of resistance. I’d always notice this withdrawal when I’m upfront with projects or opportunities, and I’d ponder on my procrastination and hesitation. I know fully well that the outcome of the project might eventually be a success if I give it a try. Then why on earth am I resisting?
One might say it’s the devil, but it’s actually you! Resistance is not a person; it’s a feeling within you, and like ~AJ Roberts would say, it is a bitch, and it does not like us.
It’s been 23 long years of my existence, pushing through challenges, barriers, and wins, and all I can say is that my perception of life, dreams, and experiences are all propelled by my environment, ideologies learned, and basically what I’ve stored in my brain, likewise you.
We resist thoughts of change, holding back simply because of fear. We’re;
scared to lose our present achievements,
scared to lose an identity,
scared of failure and embarrassment,
scared to hear bad critics,
scared to lose our loved ones, family, friends, properties, and status,
scared to move to a new point, simply because we feel it might not work out as planned or work at all.
The sad news is that we’ve locked in our true potentials and dreams simply because these illusions appear real. The good news is, as humans, we’ve got the upper hand to control our brain, our thoughts, what we consume, and the power to strategically discover solutions when we finally decide to accept change and align with our higher selves.
It’s about time to delete these delusions, distractions, guilty pleasures, and mediocrity so we can overcome resistance. Easy to say but nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.
Harnessing Resistance to Fuel Personal Growth
When you’re surrounded by creatives, you'll understand that you’re not the only one struggling with resistance. Everyone does, and as long as you’re a creative, resistance is inevitable. You’d encounter it from time to time.
Here’s a friend of mine’s point of view on his daily encounter with resistance as a creative and a photographer:
“ Well, I tackled procrastination properly, like 3 years ago. It's not like I’m 100% okay now, but it’s getting better. I dealt with it by adapting to “doing what I want with what I have,” because one thing that always makes me procrastinate is that I always say to myself, “I have limited resources, so I’ll wait.”But since I started creating with what I have at hand and hoping I’ll do even better than I planned when resources are available, that was a huge change for me.
Resisting a change or project takes a huge toll on me, especially when I see that same thing booming elsewhere, and I'll be like, "Oh, I wanted to do this," and that's actually my saddest regret because it happened to me once, and the person who was on to the project also had limited resources, but he kept on going, and I was like, "Shame on you, Rafael."
Rafael studied the pattern, and he learned how to control resistance to fuel his personal growth, although he experienced some regrets before his realization.
Gradually, you’ll realize that the more steps you take, the more progress you’ll make. Learn the different symptoms you feel, and whenever you feel like you’re boxed in by resistance, you’ve got to understand that you’ve got to change your views of limiting yourself and rather embrace change as a stepping stone to achieving your ultimate dreams.
Discover the Courage to Stand Against the Current
Resistance has no remorse. It’s out to destroy
your entire world. I had a life-changing epiphany while I was reading “Change Agents,” featuring Brian Tracy and leading experts from around the world. AJ Roberts shared during his chapter some insights that healed a lot of open wounds. He said that you have to be prepared to go to war again and again with resistance.
I asked another friend of mine, who’s a self-taught videographer and creative director, to share his POV on resistance, where he discovered the courage to fight and stand against the current of resisting during a new change, and I’d love to hear yours too. He said;
“Procrastination can be a real creativity killer, especially for those of us who thrive on expressing ideas and turning them into something tangible. Speaking from experience, procrastination has taken a significant toll on me. I remember back in 2010, when I first started learning Adobe Photoshop. I was eager and driven, but somewhere along the line, I let it go. Looking back, I realize how much I missed out by not sticking with it. If I had followed through, who knows where I’d be now? That’s a heavy regret I carry because I know the potential I could’ve unlocked if I hadn’t let procrastination win.
I have a whole lot I want to learn. I love to explore, but it all boils down to the talent, money, skill, experience, determination, and dedication you’ve got. So I’m trying to get it accordingly. God gave me the talent; I’ve got to find the money so I can use it to acquire some skills and then experience. And all this requires intense dedication and determination.
...So, my advice? Take small steps, break down your tasks, and stay consistent. Even when life gets in the way, keep moving forward. If it’s something you really need or want to do, don’t wait. You never know when time might run out on that chance.”
You’ve got to push, even when you don’t feel like it. Once you’re aware of when resistance creeps in, you’re a step ahead in overcoming it and achieving success. Be dedicated and determined to remove distractions that’ll make you succumb to failure. Opportunities are going to pop up, some of which make you feel unprepared or like they're impossible. Like he said, “you never know when time might run out on that chance.”
However, be open-minded, practice your craft every day, and stay completely focused on your goals. Understand that instead of giving up, focus on taking a step forward. Just a step, then another, and another, and before you know it, you’ll be ahead and not behind time.
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