Don't Let Your Resistance Beat You

First published on August 18, 2017

Resistance is everywhere, and it's devious. It's stopping us doing the things we want to do. First, it stops us in ways we're familiar with - we check Facebook, we tweet, we reply to emails, we do all manner of procrastination. Then, if we're lucky, and if we decide to beat that - through discipline and tricks, and apps to stop us checking Facebook - it stops us in other ways.

It stops us with fear and self doubt. No one will want to read this. No one will ever be moved by this music. It's too ordinary. People will think, who am I to be interviewing people? Who am I to be starting a business? Who am I to be coaching people? Who am I to be leading? 

If it hasn't stopped us by procrastination, then it often stops us here. Either way, we keep our heads down, we stay 'safe'. But we can feel the difference. We can feel that we are restricted. There's something trying to get out. We still pick up the guitar, quietly, when no one else is in the house. We still daydream, of writing, of singing, of leading, of our business; of the freedom, expression and creativity that we know is within us. 

And sometimes, we realise that this self doubt, this fear, isn't true either. Or, if it is true, we realise that we have to do it anyway. And we decide to dance the dance with Resistance here, too. Again, it's by discipline. It's by forming a habit which says something like, 'Ah, that isn't necessarily true. It's just Resistance. I need to carry on. I need to do the work.'

But then, if we're dancing here then maybe it gets us some other way. Often it ties us in knots. 'I can't coach more clients until I've done more coaching.' Or, 'The financial pressure is just too high for me to go to these sales meetings. I can't do it.' Or, 'I don't want to get this business idea going, in case someone else takes it', even though your last ideas were done by someone else first because you didn't share them. Or, 'I don't create time to so creative work because I don't know what I'd do with it,' even though the only way to know what to do with it is to give yourself time to create. These last two are me. The last one is me, now. 

Resistance is everywhere, it's devious, and it's not going away. If Paulo Coelho still has to schedule in hours each day for procrastination just to make sure he gets to the work, then we probably need to take steps too. 

Why is this important? It's important because today, contributing to the world is made easier than ever before. Anyone with a smart phone or an Internet cafe can contribute to making the world a better place. By sharing their art, whatever that may be. By starting a business that truly serves people, making their lives better. By following the deeper instinct inside you, that knows where you should really be. Because it's a part of the great dance, the great pattern. Because people might be inspired. They might be changed, for the better. Happier, because of what you did. And here's the true secret - maybe the reason you're scared to do it - you will be happier, too. 

Almost all the gatekeepers are gone. You don't need a publisher. You don't need a record label. You don't need a production company. You don't need a bank loan. You need £100 (or less) and Internet access. 

And you need to be able to dance with your Resistance. It won't be easy, but you can do it. Because many have before. 

Don't be one of those who stopped the dance and didn't start again. Who gave up and left relics of art which might have changed the world inside cupboards and inside heads. 

The dance won't be easy, but it will change you. And it will change the world.

Come dance with us.