“Everything we seek on our life’s journey is on the other side of resistance."
- James McPartland
From a strength-training perspective, resistance serves to make a muscle bigger and stronger. From a life perspective, what we resist tends to get bigger and stronger. When confronted by events, people, or information that challenges us, we are inclined to resist that which goes against our belief systems or rules of how the game of life is to be played. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it is worth giving pause and analysis to what we find ourselves in resistance to.
A great percentage of our beliefs are developed, and inherited, at a young age. We adopt them from parents, family members, teachers, coaches, and other role models in our lives. We essentially take on the beliefs others hold to be true.
It is worth asking ourselves, from time to time, especially when we feel ourselves in resistance: Is this belief I hold still serving me in a positive way? Or is it time to explore a new belief? While we must know what we stand for, what we will not fall for, and what we highly value, it is easy to allow the “rules” of others to become our own.
There is a lot to be said for developing new muscles along the journey of life. And remember, a muscle must first be torn down before it can be built up. So the next time you find yourself triggered by an event, a person, or new information, remember that the resistance you feel, though painful at the time, if you will push through, you’ll come out bigger and stronger.
Here’s to your forward development!
