In her book, I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was, Barbara Sher offers some fabulous insights about resistance. When your logic tells you that moving forward in a new direction is reasonable and safe and you really do want to move ahead, but you’re still not moving, you’re encountering resistance. A part of you is screaming, “DANGER AHEAD!!!” Sher writes:
“Your resistance is trying to protect you from that danger. Take a look at an animal who won’t move and you’ll get an unmistakable message: There’s trouble up ahead. Animals don’t necessarily have the best information or the most perfect judgment, but they always have a compelling reason for standing perfectly still. The same is true for us.
“When you swing into action toward your “dangerous” wish, every bit of resistance in your head will start proclaiming itself. It will try to block your path by making you feel guilty, or ashamed, or inadequate, or hopeless.”
Ready to move forward and find yourself stuck? The first step is to admit you have a problem. Oh wait, wrong program. The first step is to uncover your resistance. Need help? Try the following.
- Complete this statement: I am completely safe and happy _____________ (working as an architect, being married to Tito, owning my own publishing company, etc).
- Write all the objections that come to mind. (Architecture is for sissies. Marriage is a trap. I’ll never be good enough to own my own business.)
- Do this over and over until you are entirely bored with the process and nothing new comes up. This could be 4 times or 100 times.
Simply acknowledging what underlies your resistance can be enough to help you take an important first step toward becoming unstuck. At the very least, you’ll know what your dealing with.
In what ways are you stuck? Are you surpirsed at the causes of your resistance? Please post your comments below!
