RESISTANCE

Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance. - Steven Pressfield

There must be millions of blogs, posts, and twitter updates discussing the start of a new year and how to make it better than the previous.  I must admit I am a bit cynical when it comes to resolutions.  For instance, I speak often how the gym will be much less crowded in a week or so.  Until then we put up with many of those who seek change but quickly fade away.

Today I have three major projects which would dramatically improve my business.  The paralyzing fear for me getting started is that I have had these three major projects for the past 2 years! In fact one of them is one my reoccurring calendar forcing me to visually see my “failure of implementation” on a weekly basis.

Our pastor shared with me a book which inspired me to start one of these projects.  It may be the only book I have ever read and then re-read without even stopping.  It is the War of Art written by Steven Pressfield.  In it I discovered that my greatest resistance (fear) at the moment was getting started on these projects.  I then knew what I was going to be doing for the rest of the day.

Excerpt from War of Art:

Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

Have you ever brought home a treadmill and let it gather dust in the attic? Ever resolved on a diet, a course of yoga, a meditation practice? Have you ever felt a call to embark upon a spiritual practice, dedicate yourself to a humanitarian calling, commit your life to the service of others? Have you ever wanted to be a mother, a doctor, an advocate for the weak and helpless; to run for office, crusade for the planet, campaign for world peace or to preserve the environment? Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what Resistance is.

Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease and erectile dysfunction. To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be. If you believe in God (and I do) you must declare Resistance evil, for it prevents us from achieving the life God intended when He endowed each of us with our own unique genius. -

This book helped me figure out that my resistance was getting its strength from my self generating fear.  If I can learn to master that fear then I will be able to live without many of the regrets and fears I have carried for so long.  Just remember the more important a procrastinated task is - then the more weight resistance will throw upon you.