Resistance: It’s for real
Let me give you a picture of me “moments” before I began writing this. I’m standing in my apartment, staring at the cursor blink on my screen (standing because I put my laptop on a makeshift standing desk). The room is mostly lit from the sunlight through the window. As I look out, I start to think of writing this post, and a pit slowly begins to lay heavy in my stomach. I quickly start to loose confidence with my topic. Why?
“Resistance is telling me there are other things I can do that are more productive, more timely, more important.”
Give Resistance an inch, and it’ll take you to town. He’ll open the floodgates and let the negative thoughts start to roll in: “Who really wants to read what I write anyway?”, “Aren’t there better topics?”, “Think of everything else I can be doing. It’s more tangible.”
The reality is that there isn’t anything more important than what I’m going to do… write this post. Why? Because this is exactly what Resistance is telling me not to do, so I have a clear sign that I should be standing here. In the semi-dark. Writing.
Why does it happen so often that the best thing for us to do is usually the least we want to do? Steven Pressfield, in his book, The War of Art, calls this thing Resistance.
Here’s a dialogue that isn’t unusual in my daily fight with Resistance.
I think a bit too long on my negative thoughts; I give Resistance an inch.
“Why take the time to write a blog post when there’s a dirty dish on the table? I’m going to need to wash it anyway.”
I think for a moment longer and rationalize.
“I’ll go do it real quick, and get back to writing.”
I move to the sink, and I see a beer mug left from the night before.
“I might as well wash that since I’m here.”
Walking back to my desk, I smell the trash.
“It’s a nice day, it’ll take me 2 seconds to take the trash out, and the apartment will be much cleaner.”
I take the trash out.
“It’s beautiful out! Why not go for a run? I wanted to work out anyways.”
The post still isn’t written, and I’m not any closer to writing.
You can’t run. You can’t hide.
Bottom line:
At any endeavor where you experience pain, difficulty, etc., you are going to encounter Resistance.
Want to start a business?…lose 20 pounds? …write a book? Get ready for Resistance to come knocking at your door.
The best thing to do when Resistance ‘comes a knocking’ is put your head down, and do the work you need to do.
Win right away.
Everyone has varying degrees of Resistance. If you’re like me, you need to have a few little wins to take on the Bigfoot of Resistance. Here are a few examples of crushing Resistance’s minions that can help you build up mental strength.
- The Heroic minute(s): When your alarm goes off, don’t hit the snooze. Roll (literally if you have to) out of bed. If this seems daunting, hit your snooze one time less than your usual three.
- Outfit before bed: How often do you wake up and take 20 minutes trying to figure out what to wear? Take 10 minutes the night before, choose your clothes and set them out for the morning. We all need to make decisions during the day. Don’t waste your first one on something trivial.
- Social freeze, after 10 minutes: Give yourself 10 minutes to look at Facebook, then log off and do something you’ve been putting off.
- Pick one thing: Do 1 thing you have been meaning to do per day. Put away the tax forms, call that friend you haven’t talked to, send your Mom her birthday card, etc.
What does Resistance look like for you? How do you beat it? Share your thoughts below!
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