I am throwing a lot of personal development at you lately, but I guess that’s just the space I’m in right now. I promise I haven’t totally lost my sense of humor. I guess I’m just trying to keep myself motivated and on track and one step ahead of resistance.
I had an idea in the fall for a pretty big project. I’m not ready to go into specifics just yet, but when I decide to make some sort of public declaration of intent, you’ll be the first to know. But I had this idea and was feeling very excited about it. I started doing early research, taking notes, brainstorming, even mentioning it to others in casual conversation…and then it just sort of fizzled out.
There was never enough time in the day to work on it. I started second guessing myself – could I even pull off something like this? I started second guessing the project – was it even a good idea? A viable idea? I moved on to poking holes and talking myself out of it. No, there definitely was not a market for this idea. It would be a huge waste of time. It was destined to fail. And by early December I had more or less shelved it. Much better to just forget about it.
But then I became reacquainted with the author Steven Pressfield and his book The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. I had read excerpts from The War of Art on Huffington Post, seen it mentioned on other blogs and even shared it on this blog way back when, but I definitely needed a little refresher on resistance.
I ordered the book, and it’s been my constant companion as I try to shut down the resistance that’s making every effort to sidetrack me. The good news is, with a little insight into the nature of resistance, I’m back to working on my project. Slowly but diligently plugging away, one foot in front of the other.
What is resistance keeping you from accomplishing? Maybe these three things about resistance will help you get back on track and move forward:
1) It comes from within. Resistance is the enemy of anything that brings long-term self-knowledge or growth whether it’s a creative endeavor, a health regimen, a business launch, a spiritual quest or an act of courage. Resistance is there to shut you down. Its goal is to keep you in line, on the path, with the herd. And while it’s easy to point fingers at all the reasons you’re not reaching your potential, you are actually responsible for creating the resistance holding you back.
2) It will do whatever it takes to shut you down. Resistance is not messing around. It will do anything to keep you from doing your true work. It will fight hard for the status quo and will throw everything it has at you to keep you from progressing. Procrastination, distraction, addiction, consumerism, drama, criticism – resistance uses immediate gratification to keep you sidelined. And fear. Are you afraid? That’s its number one tool. And the bigger the fear, the closer you are to something true to you.
3) The only way to get around it is to do the work. Show up. Every day. And work. That’s how you slam the door on resistance. Resistance makes sure that you won’t be in the mood to work, but if you show up every day and keep at it, you will slow it down. Waiting for inspiration to strike or for the right time or for less distraction? That’s just resistance playing you – keeping you from getting where you need to go. Resistance does not go away. It is a battle you have to fight every day.
Getting to know my own personal brand of resistance has made it much easier to put some basic plans in place. For me and my project that means committing every week to a certain number of hours I will work and making that happen. No matter what. Even if there are stomach bugs and snow storms and three day weekends. As I move through the day and I’m thinking, Ugh, I’m just not in the mood to work, I’m able to say, That’s just resistance holding you back. And I make myself work anyway.
And sure, maybe this project will suck. So what? Then I’ll do another one. And another one. Until I get one right. Whatever happens, there’s no room for resistance.
I actually applauded at “The only way to get around it is to do the work.” Every day, I want to pass these words onto people (my students, primarily, but even friends who note they’d “like to start exercising”). Yes, yes, yes.
Now I want to know more about this idea and project of yours!
Hey Jocelyn! This is actually a post I wrote LAST year when I was hemming and hawing about writing a book about relocating with your family. And I did write it. But now that it’s coming out soon the resistance is rearing it’s head BIG TIME! So…I’ll just keep doing the work.