One of my favourite sayings is ‘what you resist, persists’ and it is certainly true – but what can you do about it? In my Procrastination book I talk about resistance and fear as that ‘digging in’ of the soul when we are faced with change can be extremely powerful. It doesn’t seem to matter if the change is desired or dreaded, the resistance can be just the same.
Overcoming resistance is about acknowledging it, facing it and choosing to deal with it. The choice is the key element, and if you don’t believe me then perhaps these wise words from ‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield will make it clearer – and no I have not got the title wrong!
“Resistance arises from within. It is self generated and self perpetuated — resistance is the enemy within. It will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify, seduce, bully, and cajole. It will assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive you. It will reason with you like a lawyer, or bludgeon you like an attacker. Resistance has no conscience. It will pledge anything to get a deal, it will double cross as soon as your back is turned. If you take resistance at its word, you deserve everything you get. Resistance is always bluffing and lying to you – laughing at you behind your back, and in your face.”
Powerful stuff, and if you want to embrace change then make friends with your resistance; and don’t trust it an inch.
