Resistance always shows up like a good idea. Always. Resistance is real… still you can rise!

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hope springing high,

Still I’ll rise -Maya Angelou

When I read this poem, it brought a mist to my eyes.

I came across the poem as I was innocently scrolling Insta, trying desperately to avoid writing this post, the one you are reading at this moment. I was avoiding writing the

post for absolutely really no good reason.

The truth is, I actually wanted to write this post.

I woke up in the morning filled with anticipation and determination to spend the afternoon writing this and at least one or maybe even two additional posts.

Even though I know three posts in an afternoon is ambitious for me, I woke up feeling ambitious. Determined.

Yep, cleared the calendar earlier in the week kind-of determined. The day before,

I had even written “Writing” with a capital W and an arrow pointing through the afternoon. Proof of me being determined.

When my husband asked, as he does daily, “What is on the agenda today?” I said with complete commitment, and you guessed it, determination, “I am writing my newsletter today. At least two, maybe even three. I really want to get ahead of these.” I said it boldly. I was sure that he could tell I was determined.

When one of my besties texted to see if I was still alive, as it turns out I had overlooked

a couple of her phone calls earlier in the week. She asked if I could talk. I immediately texted her with firm intentional boundaries, sounding as official as possible

“Yes, but not until 4:00pm. I have deadlines.” Boom. Determined.

So the question arises… Why the hell am I scrolling on Instagram being moved by the marvelous Ms. Maya Angelou?

Let’s be clear, not why am I being moved by this amazing writer, poet, who in nineteen words can stir my soul. No, I understand that.

But why the hell am I scrolling Insta instead of writing. For all that is holy in the world,

I put an arrow on my calendar!!?!! And I am still resisting that thing I am

determined to do!

It is super annoying.

Head-shake, I can't believe it annoying.

I feel like I should be better than this annoying.

And it doesn't make sense annoying.

Except that it does make sense.

And here is why.

As I tell my clients all the time, even though our brains love to fantasize about what

is possible. Draw that arrow, write that post determined, kind-of fantasize!

When it comes time to taking action, our brains are complicated and in very basic

terms our brain wants to keep us where we are so we will remain safe.

I describe this to my clients as our brain wanting to “keep us in the cave.”

Yes, a cave. Your cave. The cave where the brain thinks that we will be all safe

and protected.

It is not a real cave. A metaphorical cave. But the limitations are real.

There is a part of your brain that does not care that your dreams, hopes and vision

for your life are in the beautiful sunny field just outside of the arch opening of the cave. Nope.

This part of your brain only cares about keeping you in the confines of your current beliefs about yourself.

So anytime you want to expand yourself, make a change in your thinking or behavior, anytime you want to do something that is not solidly practiced in your current life, your brain thinks you are in danger.

Your brain doesn't mind thinking about the changes. In fact it loves daydreaming about changes. But once you start moving into action, this is where your brain feels threatened and starts taking covert action to stop you.

This covert action is called Resistance. Yes, capital R.

Your brain tricks you by making you think that your resistance is a good idea.

Resistance does not show up like resistance. No, that would be too obvious and

the brain is smarter than being obvious.

Resistance always shows up like a good idea.

“Hey, I think I’ll take a quick innocent scroll through Insta before I start.”

Yes, that sounds harmless, and reasonable, and 30 minutes later you are tearing up

over the concept of Still I rise.

Which then leads you to thinking … You should send this poem to your friend who was having a hard time yesterday. So you screen shot it. And then think...Oh, hmmm, is this going to sound like advice or will she appreciate it from the loving intent it was sent? How should I edit it? Does it need to be edited? Do I have to give the person credit who posted it….and the thoughts go on and on and on…

60 minutes later you are still not following the arrow on your calendar and writing

is something that is not happening.

Your brain is brilliant. It makes resistance show up like “Oh nothing to see over here,

we are just distracting you from fulfilling your dreams and desires by not having you take the action that gets you the results that will ultimately make you feel alive and fulfilled.”

“It’s too late to call.”

“They won’t like it anyway.”

“It would be better if I did it tomorrow, I will have more energy then.”

Your brain says, “Nothing wrong here, nothing to look at here… but why don't you

do those dishes instead of making the phone calls that will get you clients.”

You know the drill. Resistance always shows up like a good idea.

Resistance will never go away 100%. The brain works the way it works.

Your power comes in learning to recognize resistance and creating structures that have you taking action to get the results you desire.

When I cleared my schedule that was a good start.

Marking my calendar with my intention “Writing,” then drawing an arrow,

was moving in the right direction.

Waking up anticipating and determined, that was right on track.

Telling my husband what I was doing in the afternoon. Another good move.

Sitting at my desk and grabbing my phone and getting on Insta… okay… we can

clearly see that this is where the plan went astray.

And yet, just because I went astray, I did not stop.

Now this is critical. Pay attention here, because this is when most of us say,

“I’ll try tomorrow.”

Instead I got back on plan. I am going to pause and repeat here… what I did is that I noticed that I was off track and got on track.

I started writing.

Did resistance win for an hour. Yes. But my awareness took over and won the remaining part of the afternoon!

I wrote this post and a second post. Yay!

And we all know, that third one was never going to happen, but what the heck, a woman can dream!!

So here is my point. Resistance is a real thing.

It is super annoying.

Head-shake, I can't believe it annoying.

I should be better than this annoys.

And it doesn't make sense. Except that it does make sense once we understand how resistance works.

Our awareness that resistance shows up like a good idea makes us aware that we must create structure.

It makes us aware that if we are not following that structure we have gotten lost in the “good idea” of resistance.

And then it allows us to get back on track.

Resistance is going to happen. It is the getting back on track that is critical to the results and the dream.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hope springing high,

Still I’ll rise -Maya Angelou

Still I’ll rise.

Still I’ll rise.

Still. I’ll. Rise.

Resistance is real… and still you can rise!