I was talking with Jordan Syatt today and we were–well, not complaining–let’s say “reminiscing”, about just how long it’s been taking us to get our new podcast up and running. It’s me, him, and Som. And between scheduling errors and literal technical explosions, pretty much everything that has gone wrong, has. Which, well, that’s Murphy’s Law, right?
The point is this project has been a real pain in the butt to start. But at no instance have we thought of abandoning ship. Sure, we all said how much it has seriously “sucked ass” that one of our primest episode didn’t record. The one, obviously, where we were all just clicking along, and even sounding somewhat funny for once, rather than mumbling on incoherently which is my usual modus operandi. (Som always sounds great, though. Because, well… because he’s Som.)
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned at all about how this silly, little world works, it’s that invisible, metaphysical barriers will erect around anything that’s important for you to do. And the more important it is, the more of a pelting pain it will surely become. There’s a term for this. Resistance. At least that’s what Steven Pressfield calls it, anyway. And Resistance arises and increases to the extent that anything you’re doing will result in the evolution of your soul. You know, if you want to get a little woo-woo about it.
So that means if you want to start a business, expect Resistance. If you want to be healthy, Resistance will be there, too, no doubt. Want to meditate? Resistance. Abs? Resistance. Anything that’ll force you to be patient, to practice, and to have a process is going to trigger this universal counterpart to, well, whatever the heck the opposite of Resistance is. (Assistance, maybe?) So, if you want to clean toilets for a living, I’m sure Resistance will give you a pass. Lucky you. But try having a set of values and aligning those values with action. Try having goals! Things you want to achieve. Because, my gosh, man. Nothing will elicit more Resistance than that.
There is only one possible way to overcome Resistance, at least that I know of. That is, you just have to keep going. You have to refuse to accept that Resistance can beat you. There’s really no other way. And the more Resistance builds, the more you have spit on your hands, double down, and do the work. Because eventually you’ll get there, and Resistance will subside. But then it’s on to the next thing, and, well… I’ll be damned. Resistance, right where you left him.
So it’s not like it ever gets any easier. (Hint: It doesn’t.) The only difference is you get tougher, so that helps, a little bit. But there are still days–and plenty of them, believe me–where I’m just like, “Man, I am getting CRUSHED, here.” You feel chewed up, overwhelmed, lost, clingy, afraid. Totally normal–trust me. This is me, like, 97% of time. And it’s all a bunch of Resistance’s games. So when these days happen, I’m no longer surprised by them. I know what this is, and I know how to beat it. I may feel ruffled, and often I do. But it doesn’t phase me like it did the first 1,000 or so times I let Resistance get the better of me. I just see it as another part of the process, one I will always have to go through, whether I like it or not.
So to all of you out there struggling to get something started, I salute you. Resistance is real, motherfuckers. And we all suffer from it and we all have to learn to deal with it in our own way. But don’t give up, whatever you do. Because Resistance is a sign you’re doing the right thing, a way for the universe to inform you, not only that your pursuit is worthy, but that YOU are worthy of your pursuit.
Strong ON!
– Pat
PS – You might also enjoy my Inner Circle, because you don’t have to go at overcoming Resistance alone.