Change is Hard--Resisting It Is Even Harder

“I’m so tired!” “I have no energy.” “I don’t seem to have the get-up-and-go that I used to.” If these thoughts sound familiar, I have a question for you:  Are you resisting something?

So often, people think that changing something like their careers, relationships, health, environments, or their behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions will be hard work.  I have news for you: it usually is. However, not changing is even harder!  Resisting change is like trying to hold off a Mack truck with one arm.  Inevitably whatever you’ve put so much energy and investment into staving off will make its presence known in other ways: depression, lack of energy, stress, anxiety, addictions, weight gain….The repercussions for resisting change are endless and affect the quality of your life.

Think back during your life and find an example where a change was forced upon you and you came away from it better than ever.  You are strong.  You are fully capable of taking control of your life and making it the best life you’ve ever imagined for yourself.  Resistance to life because of fear limits your ability to live a good life.  And we all want a good life.

Change is hard, resisting it is even harder.

Reducing the resistance in your life will take some time.  First, you have to be aware of the resistance.  What's the question you’ve been afraid to ask yourself?  Which areas of your life are being affected?  Next, it’s time to make the shift and truly own that you are 100% responsibile for your life–for everything!  No more blaming, no more complaining, no more denying, and no more deflecting.  As you reflect on your resistance, see if you can observe your feelings as they come up.  Don’t judge or label, just observe then let them go.  At some point you’ll need to take action on those things you’ve been avoiding and resisting.  One of the quotes that helped me through my divorce (read more about Nicole's story here: Transforming Divorce) went something like Suffering is not seeing things the way they are. When you are resisting something in your life, you are not accepting some part of your life–you are fighting with it, using your valuable energy to hold off the uncomfortableness of possible life-altering change.

Isn’t resistance the fear of change?  If you are feeling tired, stressed, sad, or angry ask yourself if you are resisting life in any way. And then, ask yourself if you want to continue to limit the quality of your life or if you are ready to step past your fears and live an amazing life.