Resistance as an Opening
What is your relationship with resistance? As a coach, I witness resistance quite often. Resistance can FEEL hard. It can feel like a closing, but what if resistance was the opening? What if resistance was the messenger to something new and wonderful in your life? What if you brought an abundance of curiosity to your resistance?
Resistance gets loud right before a client commits to coaching and then again when career purpose clarity is close. There is a powerful saying in the 12-step world: “Don’t quit before the miracle!”
How do we get curious about our resistance? Here is my suggestion: Slow it all down. Often resistance will have your blood pumping or it may have you go numb. So, first and foremost, NOTICE your body. What is happening? Are you breathing normally or fast? Is your body clenched or relaxed? Just simply notice and then note it to yourself: Wow, I feel numb. Or wow I feel contracted and closed.
Next, bring some attention and love to that observation and then ask yourself, what does the resistance mean to me? Better yet, grab a pen and journal and write it down. Set a timer for 5 minutes and complete this sentence over and over like an inquiry.
The resistance means…
The resistance means…
The resistance means…
After you journal, do a body check in again. How is your breathing? How is your heart rate? How does your body feel? Note it and then ask yourself: What am I resisting? Are you resisting a possible amazing future for yourself? Are you resisting fulfillment? Are you resisting your soul’s whispers?
Your resistance is like a one-stop radio station; it cannot see the other radio stations, aka the other possibilities. It just simply wants to protect us and keep us in the familiar– the one-stop radio station. Is that one-stop radio station serving your highest good? Is it allowing you to BLOSSOM into your fullest potential? Is it keeping you comfortably miserable?
The unknown can feel super scary, but what if the unknown was the miracle waiting? What if the unknown was a life beyond your wildest dreams? What if the unknown was stepping fully into your purpose? Let the resistance have it’s time, honor it, tend to it, and be cautious that it does not turn into quicksand and prevent you for fulfilling what matters most to you in life.
What if RESISTANCE was the OPENING?
Michelle M. Olsen - Career Purpose Coach
GreenLight Your Life
