Resistance Preceeds Change

You have decided to make some changes in your life.  Your goals are set and you have an action plan in place.  All systems are go.  Things seem to be rolling along just fine and then it seems that nothing is working.  You are doing everything on your action plan.  The work is being done, but you are not seeing any progress.  What is going on?

Does this seem to be familiar to you? Are you beginning to believe that the wanted change is hopeless?  Calm down and take a breath.  There may have been one thing that you forgot to include in all your plans.  There is a force called resistance.  You know how Newton's law talks about how something that is in motion stays in motion unless acted upon or the reverse of something not in motion stays that way unless acted upon, well resistance is a force that acts upon things.


Think about it for a minute.  Lets say you are trying to roll a heavy sphere.  At first pushing against it accomplishes nothing.  Sometimes you even have to find some leverage to make it work.  Then once you start things do not progress quickly until you build up some momentum.  Once that momentum is built than watch out.  Unless you do something to stop it that sphere will just keep on rolling.

Change is the same way.  Once you begin to push toward change it may seem like nothing is budging.  You will need to keep at it.  You may have to find some kind of tool to help you get started.  Once you start seeing progress it will seem miniscule until you build up momentum and then it will be hard to keep under control.

What kind of things can cause that resistance?  There are many.  Things like your own mindset, other people, and unexpected events.  So what do you do about it?

First recognize that resistance exists.  Then you need to figure out where that resistance is coming from.  Once you do then you can devise a plan to get around that resistance.  If it your own mindset, what do you need to do to overcome it?  If it is others how can you get them on board?  If its not possible are you willing to leave them behind?  With unexpected events you work around them and change your plan.  If the resistance comes from a lack of knowledge or skill then work on that.

Some great tools could be a mentor or coach, books, organizations, churches, 12 step programs etc.  Find a tool that works with the type of resistance you are experiencing.

Overall do not give up.  Challenges will happen.  Face them head on and with eyes wide open.  If you see them coming they are easier to handle.  You may even have to change course a little bit.  Positive change is always worth it.