I’m a big fan of Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art. In his work, he talks about Resistance--with a capital R--as the enemy. (It reminds me of the dramatic scene in Dead Poets Society when Mr. Keating instructs his students to rip out the Introduction of their poetry books. “This is a battle--a war--and the casualties could be your hearts and souls!” I love that movie.)
According to him, Resistance is the opposing force of creative work and positive changes. He says that the more important a task or project is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will have toward that thing. In other words, whatever you resist the most--wherever Resistance is the strongest--that’s the thing you most need to do! And in order to do it, you must battle and conquer Resistance.
I’m also a fan of Parker Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak. In his work, he talks about the importance of letting yourself be guided by your life, rather than trying to direct or control it in such a Western/industrial/masculine/brute force fashion. (It reminds me of a quote attributed to Joseph Campbell-- “We must be willing to give up the life we have planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.”) In a way, it’s the opposite of Steven Pressfield's instructions.
One says, “Resistance is an enemy to be overcome. Wherever you feel Resistance, that’s your path.”
The other says, “Resistance is a sign, your life speaking, divine guidance that your path is something else.”
Which one is right? Is Resistance a sign that we should pursue something, or that we should steer toward something else? Or is there a difference between Resistance and divine redirection? Are there different kinds of Resistance? Whose advice should we honor?
These are questions I myself have been exploring, and I’m not sure I know the answer. However, I have been observing these instances in my own life, the ones that make me wonder which path to take, whose advice to follow. Whether it’s Resistance I am dealing with or a greater guiding force steering me away from one thing and toward another.
One example: my decision to pursue graduate school, not getting in, then feeling Resistance to pursuing it further. Is that merely a battle to be overcome--in fact a sign that I should definitely pursue it, because it’s part of my highest calling? OR is my Resistance instead a sign that it’s actually the wrong path, and that I should pursue something else? Or is one Resistance but not the other?
My thoughts: Resistance--the one that’s a sign that something is truly in your best interest--shows up differently in that case. In the case where you feel truly disinterested or drained when you pursue something, that may be a sign that it's not the right path. So what's the distinction?
True Resistance, the kind that does need to be faced and overcome--is actually accompanied by DESIRE. True desire. Not a “should.” For example, on some level, graduate school felt like a “should” to me. It felt like a safe, socially approved choice. And it is! It felt like an escape, an easy way out, an alternative to the boring and stressful phase I was in, a way to avoid making a decision about my career. A way to be praised and celebrated without having to actually work that hard or accomplish anything difficult. It’s free approval!
Writing a blog on the other hand--writing or creating anything--feels terrifying. Feels like a risk. Like being exposed, naked, vulnerable. And that takes courage. And that is where Resistance shows up, and looks a lot like fear. Or indecision. Or too many ideas. You see the difference?
In one case, my path actually lies somewhere else and the “Resistance” that showed up was a case of mistaken identity--it wasn’t actually “Resistance” at all, but more along the lines of “Way closing,” as Parker Palmer would say. And this closing in turn guided me back onto my true path--the path where I experience true Resistance in the form of fear and self-doubt.
The difference is, wherever there is true Resistance, it’s accompanied by true reward. Far greater than easily-“earned” social approval or an ego boost. It’s the deeper satisfaction of following your true calling, doing your real work. And the rewards are far greater, sweeter, richer.
Here’s to your Resistance, to Way closing, and to your destiny.
According to him, Resistance is the opposing force of creative work and positive changes. He says that the more important a task or project is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will have toward that thing. In other words, whatever you resist the most--wherever Resistance is the strongest--that’s the thing you most need to do! And in order to do it, you must battle and conquer Resistance.
I’m also a fan of Parker Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak. In his work, he talks about the importance of letting yourself be guided by your life, rather than trying to direct or control it in such a Western/industrial/masculine/brute force fashion. (It reminds me of a quote attributed to Joseph Campbell-- “We must be willing to give up the life we have planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us.”) In a way, it’s the opposite of Steven Pressfield's instructions.
One says, “Resistance is an enemy to be overcome. Wherever you feel Resistance, that’s your path.”
The other says, “Resistance is a sign, your life speaking, divine guidance that your path is something else.”
Which one is right? Is Resistance a sign that we should pursue something, or that we should steer toward something else? Or is there a difference between Resistance and divine redirection? Are there different kinds of Resistance? Whose advice should we honor?
These are questions I myself have been exploring, and I’m not sure I know the answer. However, I have been observing these instances in my own life, the ones that make me wonder which path to take, whose advice to follow. Whether it’s Resistance I am dealing with or a greater guiding force steering me away from one thing and toward another.
One example: my decision to pursue graduate school, not getting in, then feeling Resistance to pursuing it further. Is that merely a battle to be overcome--in fact a sign that I should definitely pursue it, because it’s part of my highest calling? OR is my Resistance instead a sign that it’s actually the wrong path, and that I should pursue something else? Or is one Resistance but not the other?
My thoughts: Resistance--the one that’s a sign that something is truly in your best interest--shows up differently in that case. In the case where you feel truly disinterested or drained when you pursue something, that may be a sign that it's not the right path. So what's the distinction?
True Resistance, the kind that does need to be faced and overcome--is actually accompanied by DESIRE. True desire. Not a “should.” For example, on some level, graduate school felt like a “should” to me. It felt like a safe, socially approved choice. And it is! It felt like an escape, an easy way out, an alternative to the boring and stressful phase I was in, a way to avoid making a decision about my career. A way to be praised and celebrated without having to actually work that hard or accomplish anything difficult. It’s free approval!
Writing a blog on the other hand--writing or creating anything--feels terrifying. Feels like a risk. Like being exposed, naked, vulnerable. And that takes courage. And that is where Resistance shows up, and looks a lot like fear. Or indecision. Or too many ideas. You see the difference?
In one case, my path actually lies somewhere else and the “Resistance” that showed up was a case of mistaken identity--it wasn’t actually “Resistance” at all, but more along the lines of “Way closing,” as Parker Palmer would say. And this closing in turn guided me back onto my true path--the path where I experience true Resistance in the form of fear and self-doubt.
The difference is, wherever there is true Resistance, it’s accompanied by true reward. Far greater than easily-“earned” social approval or an ego boost. It’s the deeper satisfaction of following your true calling, doing your real work. And the rewards are far greater, sweeter, richer.
Here’s to your Resistance, to Way closing, and to your destiny.
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