I had a very specific thing in mind that I wanted to do today.
But I didn’t do it.
It’s weird that I actually resisted doing something I wanted to do.
I wanted to…but I didn’t?
Here are some examples. They have all happened to me. They probably sound familiar.
- I wanted to organize the garage today … but it felt too big to tackle in the time I had.
- I wanted to build the financial model today … but I didn’t think I could do it in a distracting environment.
- I wanted to return the carpet sample today …. but it didn’t seem worth my attention compared to more complicated things.
- I wanted to write an article today … but I didn’t think I had strong enough ideas to share yet.
Inertia of the Status Quo
When facing something I didn’t choose and something outside of my control, it makes sense that I could feel resistance.
But I find it frustrating that I can get a strong feeling of resistance to change that I initiate and I want!
I can amaze myself with a wide range of justifications to keep safely in the status quo. And practically anything – big or small – might disrupt the status quo.
The key tool I have to mitigate this internal resistance, is awareness.
I find ways to keep reminding myself that I, as a human being, am hardwired with internal resistance. When I accept that it’s going to pop up sometimes – even when it doesn’t make any sense – then I can notice more clearly when it’s happening and find different motivations to get through it.
Physical Cues of Internal Resistance
Part of my internal resistance is about getting away from physical discomfort. My chest can compress. My breathing can be shallow. My palms can sweat. Noticing any of these physical cues can really help me become aware that something is going on and prompt me to face it.
For you perhaps you notice your shoulders tense up? your jaw clenches? your breathing get fast or laboured? your toes curl up?
Exercise
The more you can acknowledge that internal resistance is a natural response to change, and then hopefully the more you’ll notice when it occurs and can choose to navigate your way through it.
So here’s an exercise to strengthen your internal resistance awareness muscle:
- Identify one thing that you are resisting doing
- Maybe it’s cleaning the house, writing thank you notes, or formatting meeting minutes
- Every day this week, start a timer for 10 minutes
- During that time, you don’t have to do the thing, but you can’t do anything else (“more research” or “prep work” are not allowed!)
- You might be staring at a blank piece of paper for 10 minutes, or gazing out the window, and that’s okay
- When the 10 minutes are up, notice
- Any discomfort you had in your body
- Any self-talk
- Anything trying to pull you away
- Any progress you actually made on the thing? (Yay you!)
- At the end of the week, notice any change in the experience as the days progressed
