We all have that from time to time: resistance to change and doing something which we know for sure will do us well.
I observe it when it comes up and I smile. I had to smile this morning when I opened up my blank page and started to write this piece of work. Resistance was there to salute me.
But how we approach the resistance to change is more important than eliminating it at all. There will be times when resistance will come up and it is useful not to suppress it but instead learn to befriend it.
Recognising the resistance to change
In that moment there will be two voices humming in your head: one telling you all the good reasons why you should not do the work, especially if you are a creator.
“I’m not in the mood”
“I don’t feel the creative flow”
“I feel like forcing the process”, and the list can go on and on.
And the other one much quieter (and scared, I’d say) that will whisper
“Who am I to create?”
“It is too hard to do this work”.
Either or, if you buy into these thoughts you’ll end up doing something else: helping others, cleaning your house, or even distracting yourself with activities which are not that beneficial to you in the long run.
My mind this morning was telling me that I really needed to do the grocery shopping NOW, that I had to wait until the hour was on the dot to start, and something more which I don’t remember now. Nonsense, right?
And it will be, when the actions that you are about to take are different from the ones you were used to take.
The thought comes before the action, but the belief comes before the thought
Remember, the thought comes before the action and the thought stems from a belief. The belief is held in an energetic field that has a powerful conviction over what we think is true.
In this article, we will tackle the practical aspect of it, but, if you would like to reflect on belief and thought, I’d encourage you to read this article on the power of setting intentions. Intentions can go deep and take the roots of false beliefs out of our consciousness. More on belief systems in an article to come.
So, you are in front of the blank page, the drawing piece of paper, your running shoes, your meditation pillow and you really want to show up to your commitment. Or maybe you are just thinking of it. What do you do in that moment to overcome those two voices?
How do you overcome resistance to change then?
I have a two steps process which I follow to overcome the resistance to change:
- Plan ahead and put in your calendar those actions that, based on the intentions which you’ve set previously and your life vision, are really meaningful to you (see also article on setting small goals).
- When approaching the time of the activity and seeing the resistance coming, start without questioning anything, letting know that inner voice which is a bit insecure and fearful that whatever we’ll be producing will be good enough. What’s the worse that can happen anyways?
Perfectionism will sabotage the process
Perfectionism is a great weapon of our mind, at times venerated in our society. We are so used to seeing things so perfectly done (thanks photoshop, workaholism, consumerism, etc) and comparison kicks in. This is followed by self-doubt and then rejection of our soul’s creative powers and yearnings.
And I’ve never seen a person who is happy and is able to quieten her creative nature.
To take the pressure off, focus on your life as an expression of your soul’s uniqueness. It doesn’t have to be liked or evaluated by others. It is important to express that uniqueness otherwise we end up suppressing it and pushing it down. And that makes us feel miserable.
We are all creative beings with some creative juices awaiting to be expressed. Why we commit to express those creative forces within is a very personal question. For me, it is about paying respect to that which keeps me alive, that which makes nature follow its natural course, that which makes my body evolve, to naturally go to sleep, to know its rhythm, that which gave me the power to breathe. Some may call it God, others Creative Intelligence, others Universe, others Life, others Love, or Peace. What you choose doesn’t matter. Acknowledging it is more important.
When the power of habit takes over
A writer once said that he never writes unless he is inspired. That’s why he makes sure he is always inspired at 9 am every morning. It takes practice to show up to that which is meaningful to us. And we might not be always inspired to create or show up from a place which feels flowy and natural. We might feel grumpy, crusty, cranky to start with.
Talent is not the secret ingredient to a successful artist, practice is.
Whatever artist or athlete you might interview, they will tell you that they’ve spent hours and hours practicing their art. What makes the difference is having that inner power and conviction that this is what you want to do and then keep going despite the resistance. One step in front of the other, one day after the other, and the muscle will build up.
Getting through the forest of your mind
How do you get through the forest of your mind convincing you that you should not do this or that? That’s where intention and the power of having strong inner core values lies.
Want to get clear about your vision and commitments and learn to get through resistance with a bit of support? Get in touch and let’s get this creative flow going. Whatever it is, take action now to bring change in your life.
You have something really beautiful inside you. Nurture it with good habits. Express it. Don’t let it die within… Share this article with your trusted friend or accountability buddy and let’s get creative together 🙂