One of the biggest obstacles when dealing with any type of change is all of the resistance that comes along with it. Sometimes it feels like you’re trying to bust your way through a brick wall with the wrong tools. After awhile, it takes a toll on you physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally.
So what do you do?
There are many different pieces that contribute to resistance and keep you in struggle. Maybe it is another person. Maybe it is an old pattern or outdated belief. Maybe it is a fear of the unknown. And maybe it is a combination of all of the above. Whatever the case may be, oftentimes, there’s one critical piece that gets ignored — acknowledgment.
More often than not, we never take the time to truly understand what the resistance is really about. (And it’s usually never about the surface-level issue being discussed.)
Here’s a perfect example.
This morning I was trying my best to stay in bed. When my alarm went off, I smacked it with my hand and pulled the covers back over my head!
But after tossing and turning for awhile and my failed attempt to go back to sleep, my dog lovingly gave me one of his nose nudges. I wish you could’ve seen the expression on his face. It was one of…
So I reluctantly climbed out of bed, took him outside to pee and went into the garage to get the laundry. Then I saw it covered partly by a grey blanket — my treadmill. Poor thing. It had been sitting there in the corner becoming a dust collector and a towel and blanket rack.
Everything in me was screaming out, “Use it!”, but similar to my desire to not want to get out of bed, I didn’t want to work out either. I didn’t want move. I didn’t want to be active. I just wanted to stay where I was. It was easy and comfortable, you know?
Well, I couldn’t resist the feeling anymore…and deep down, I knew that I would feel better once I jumped on.
And sure enough I did! It felt so good to move and be IN my body — to get the blood and oxygen circulating. Being a former collegiate athlete and a performer, I intellectually know the benefits, but being human, sometimes I just don’t want to listen and do what I need to do. (I could go on and on about that issue!!)
So after my workout, I was curious. What was that resistance all about? Why was I fighting the thing that I knew would make me feel better and be good for me?
Well, that’s part of change. That’s part of doing something different. It takes time, energy, effort and courage, and that’s what became clear to me. It felt like I was having to start all over again because I hadn’t worked out in awhile.
I had to acknowledge that I was starting from this new place.
Then the light bulb went off! That was it — I was starting from a new place. I was re-building and re-training my body, and I was being given the invitation to pivot — to acknowledge that things weren’t as they used to be.
That was powerful because I finally gave myself permission to be in resistance and acknowledge (and appreciate) what was true for me without making myself feel guilty or ashamed. It’s just how I felt in that moment.
Once I did that, I was able to take action. I was able to move forward. I worked out. (And in the process of doing so, got the idea and inspiration for this blog post!)
Sometimes we just need to be acknowledged. Sometimes we just need to acknowledge ourselves. Sometimes we just need to say,
Because in that moment, you have the freedom to make a new choice.
As always, I’m curious…
What change(s) are you going through? What are you resisting? What would be possible if you were able to acknowledge them without guilt or shame?
I’d love for you to share your comments and insights with me in the section below!
So here’s your invitation for a pivot point! What is it that you’re being invited to do differently?
© 2014 Donell Hill
About Donell Hill
Donell (“Donnie”) Hill believes that people are here on Earth to thrive and live their best life possible despite any circumstances that life brings them. He combines his life lessons until now with his Stanford University education, experiences as a Certified Cancer Journey Coach and Peer Health Educator, as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a professional actor to help people live their potential and maximize their lives. After all, our collective future depends on it. See www.TheLifeMaximizer.com for more.