Neutralizing Resistance: Uncovering the Truth Within

Resistance is not a sign of your flaws or faults; it's not an indicator that something is wrong with you.

Instead, it's a neutral intelligence emanating from your very cells—it's information, pure and simple. Unfortunately, we often perceive resistance as something negative, leading us to shame ourselves for procrastination, stalling, detours, and the infamous "I just don't wanna's."

Yet, beyond the shame lies a deeper truth—the true experience. In the quest to learn how to be authentic, we paradoxically push away one of the most authentic aspects of our operating system—our resistance.

That "no" you feel, the "I don't want to," the struggle to take action—it's resistance. And we dig our heels into the ground while simultaneously beating ourselves up for resisting. The systemic dissonance that creates is magnificent, and very uncomfortable.

What if we reframed resistance? What if we acknowledged its presence and trusted that it serves a purpose? Imagine listening to your resistance fully, giving it a chance to express itself. You might discover that resistance is offering you a shortcut, suggesting a more efficient way, or pointing you towards a path of flow that leads to exactly what you desire in the end. The irony is that the fear of proving to ourselves that maybe we are indeed lazy, dumb, or unlikeable is SO LOUD, that it keeps us from ever moving towards resistance long enough to hear what it has to say.

Let me share a personal example. Tonight, I craved sushi. Really intensely— the kind of craving that keeps you from thinking about LITERALLY anything else. I was blinded by it. There’s something about that first bite of a roll that in particular that’s just next-level satisfaction and joy. After each of my children’s births, this was my go to post-labor-I-fucking-did-it-celebration meal.

But back to the craving - I wanted to feel a feeling. I wanted comfort and satisfaction and a sense of joy that that core memory has alongside it. However, finding gluten and dairy-free sushi rolls at local restaurants proved almost impossible. Everything I found felt stripped down and basic, taking away the joy of the vision I held in my mind.

I resisted. A part of me contemplated giving up my dietary commitments. Maybe just this once.

But I know my “why” - I know the reasons why I’m committed to healing my body and the accommodations I choose to adhere to certainly play a big part in that.

So, I regrouped. I leaned into the resistance.

I asked myself, what did I genuinely want? I wanted the feeling.

Could I recreate the feeling with the things I had at home?

Maybe.

In a moment of inspiration, the sushi bowl came to life - a deconstructed roll, only using ingredients I know keep me on track with my goals. I found a way to both satisfy the emotional need, and maintain my commitments. Resistance held the keys to that.

Resistance, it turns out, can serve us well in service of our goals. By listening to our resistance and understanding its message, we can navigate the path to authenticity and use it as a guide to empower our journey.

Next time you encounter resistance, pause and listen to what it has to say, even if a little uncertain about what it might hold. Embrace it as a valuable, yet NEUTRAL, source of information, guiding you towards a more authentic and purposeful existence. In doing so, you'll find yourself embracing your true self and living a life more aligned with your deepest desires.

Brb because more sushi sounds real good right about now.