It’s Not My Fault; She Seduced Me!

I know that got you to open up this email. We are naturally prone to hear a little piece of juicy gossip. I have learned that gossip gives us a false sense of security that leads us to believe that we’re doing well, because we’re not doing that. However, this post is not about gossip or what you think at all.

It’s about a nine-letter word that plagues us all and we probably don’t even know it.

The word is RESISTANCE!

I recently, read a book entitled “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield that explores the topic of resistance. In this book, Pressfield states:

“Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. It can be felt, however. It is a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work”

In a nutshell, resistance is an invisible and internal energy that prevents us from achieving our grandest goals in life. Contrary to popular belief, many people are dying and their dreams and DESTINY dies with them, because they were never able to overcome RESISTANCE. There is an old adage that says, what you don’t know won’t hurt you. However, that is complete bull crap. What you don’t know are the things that hurt you the most.

Resistance is the enemy of productivity! It is the silent killer of forward momentum. Resistance is the thing that makes you busy, but not productive. Resistance whispers empty promises of tomorrow’s possibilities. Resistance is the force that keeps you stuck, wishing and hoping, but never ever producing.

For years, I had been plagued with this invisible force. However, I could never figure on what was really going on with me. Therefore, I lived and produced well under what I was really born to produce. Pressfield states, “Resistance stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.”

Here are three important things for you to know and understand about RESISTANCE:

FORMS of RESISTANCE: • Procrastination • Fear • Self-Pity • Envy • Excuses • and even sex…

This list is a very small segment of the forms that resistance takes. The most common form is PROCRASTINATION! Procrastination is putting until tomorrow what you could do today. The problem with “tomorrow”, is that most of the time it never shows up.

FEELINGS of RESISTANCE: • Unhappiness • Boredom • Restlessness • Dissatisfaction • Depression • Disgust • Anxiousness

Are you getting the point? These feelings have been keeping you from achieving your goals and producing the things that you want to achieve in life. However, you probably were unable to put words to your feelings. Well, let me help you, it’s RESISTANCE and it’s killing your potential, purpose and PROFIT!

FIGHT RESISTANCE:

Here are a few things that can help you to fight RESISTANCE:

1. Recognize Resistance. Now that you have the language to put with the forms and feelings of resistance, you can be honest with yourself when you’re encountering resistance. Recognition is half the fight, because you can’t fight an enemy that you can’t see. You’ll now be able to see things for what they really are.

2. Treat your goals and projects like they are your secular job. Regardless of the way we feel, we go to work, we complete our projects and we don’t make excuses. Don’t allow yourself to make excuses about your goals and projects. It is always easier to be managed by someone else, but become accountable to yourself and to your work.

3. Practice! It is an old saying that “Practice makes Perfect,” but that is not true. It should be: “Practice makes Better”. Perfection is an illusion that we have bought into. Practice fighting resistance. Set a time to do your work and do it. Sit down in the chair and don’t get up until you complete your goal. Finish the project! Write the Book! Design the Website! Do it!

Resistance can never be conquered, it can only be fought. The moment you think that you’ve mastered it and let up, it will come back with a vengeance and take you back as a prisoner of your own devices.

Where has RESISTANCE reared its ugly head in your life and what ways are you fighting it?