Symptoms of Resistance

Following the first part, Introduction to Resistance and the second, Characteristics of Resistance, comes the third part- Symptoms of Resistance.

Resistance and Procrastination

Procrastination is the most common manifestation of Resistance because it's the easiest to justify.

We don't tell ourselves,

"I'm never going to exercise."

Instead, we say,

"I am going to exercise; I'm just going to start tomorrow."

We don't just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed.

Resistance and Trouble/ Self-dramatization

We get ourselves in trouble because it's a cheap way to get attention. Ill health is a form of trouble, as are alcoholism and drug addiction, proneness to accidents, all neurosis including compulsive screwing-up, jealousy, chronic lateness, etc.

How good it feels when we say to ourselves or our friends that WE DON'T HAVE TIME to prepare for the interview or go to the gym or do something which can change any aspect of our life- be it physical or mental health, career, finance, relationship?

Deep down, we know that we don't need to move mountains or make any heart-attack-inducing decisions; we just need to work around a little bit.

Resistance and Criticism

If you find yourself criticizing other people, you're probably doing it out of Resistance. When we see others beginning to live their authentic selves, it drives us crazy if we have not lived out our own.

Individuals who are at peace with themselves almost never criticise others. If they speak at all, it is to offer encouragement.

Watch yourself. Of all the manifestations of Resistance, most only harm ourselves. Criticism and cruelty harm others as well.

Resistance and Self-doubt

Self-doubt serves as an indicator of aspiration. It reflects love, love of something we dream of doing, and desire, desire to do it.

If you find yourself (or your friends) asking, "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist? Should I start learning that?"- chances are you are or you should do it.

The fake is wildly self-confident; the real one is scared to death.

Resistance and Fear

Are you paralyzed with fear? That's a good sign.

Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do.

Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of Resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there'd be no Resistance.

Remember one rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.

Resistance and Love

Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you're feeling massive Resistance, the good news is, it means there's tremendous love there too. If you didn't love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn't feel anything. The opposite of love isn't hate; it's indifference.

The more Resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you—and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.

Resistance and Isolation

Sometimes we hesitate at embarking on an enterprise because we're afraid of being alone. We feel comfortable with the tribe around us; it makes us nervous going off into the woods on our own.

Here's the trick: We're never alone. The act of courage undoubtedly calls for that deeper part of ourselves that supports and sustains us.

It is commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly.

As Sadhguru once said, "On a particular day, when you're very happy- twenty-four hours just flee. When you're depressed, twenty-four hours feels like an eternity for you.

So, only miserable people have a long life. If you're a joyful person, it's a brief life. If you're an ecstatic person, it's just a moment; it's gone before you know what's happening."

Resistance can be Beaten

If Resistance couldn't be beaten, there would be no Fifth Symphony, no Romeo and Juliet, no Tesla, not even this blog post you are reading 😬.

Defeating Resistance is like giving birth. It seems absolutely impossible until you remember that women have been pulling it off successfully, with support and without, for fifty million years.

My favourite lines:

Never forget: At this very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny.

This second, we can sit down and do our work.

Happy Reading !