“Hello, my name is Jo and I’m a Starter not a Finisher, please help”. How many projects, ideas, practices, dreams, tasks have I started and never finished? (a lot). Grand and even less grand ideas, things that would make a difference, thought of and then discarded through distraction, procrastination, fear, avoidance, lack of action. Resistance is real.
Whenever you create, whether it’s a new practice or habit, a new way of being or if you’re bringing something different in to your world there will always be resistance. Regardless of intention. Maybe not at first, there could be a flush of excitement, this energy and momentum pulling it through, feeling unstoppable, however, at some point (whether there is an end date, like delivering a project or no end date, like establishing an ongoing practice) you will be met with a very powerful force that has the ability to stop everything. This is the resistance.
It can show up in many ways, avoiding through doing something else or thinking about what we should be doing – our minds are very powerful and we can wallow in thinking about rather than the doing we actually want for extraordinary lengths of time. The other side of resistance is so potent and wonderful that it is worth finding ways over, under and through.
One way through is having a just do it mentality, no time to think, do it. There is a useful tool that I sometimes employ where I count down and then act straightaway. 5,4,3,2,1 Go.
A regular diary commitment or a public/friends/family declaration can also help overcome resistance. This promise to others or yourself can itself be greater than the lure of resistance.
Having my values clearly stated, accessible and top of mind show me what is important, what I prioritise and who I want to be – this is a pep talk from myself.
Increasingly, when I meet with resistance I know that it’s because I am doing something right, something that I really need to be doing for me to grow, shift and evolve; knowing this has the ability to power me through to the finish line.
“Hello, my name is Jo and I’m a work in progress, I will keep trying.”
Lots of love,
Jo x