Just like everything in life, there are two sides to "resistance."
The resistance I am speaking of in this context is the resistance to change; a change that could bring about a better life…in other words, if something is not working, having the willingness to be open to other possibilities.
I’ve heard it said many times, “when the pain of where you are is greater than the fear of what might be,” then people change.
But why do we have to wait until such a dire moment? Resistance is why.
Another saying is, “What you resist will forever exist.”
We all resist to some degree or another. Especially the older we get. Children can change in a heartbeat but, even if there is some difficulty, it passes quickly.
So it might be easy to deduce that the older we get, the more the ego sets in, making us think we know better, which blinds us to seeing the possibilities.
Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who thinks they know it all? Well, sometimes we are that person but we don’t see it.
Believe it or not, one thing that helps us with change is when we can laugh at ourselves. When we don’t take ourselves so seriously about everything, remembering that others too have ways of doing things, or different ideas. It’s not just “our way or the highway.”
Resistance can also stunt us spiritually, not just socially, mentally or emotionally.
So how do we use resistance to help us grow spiritually?
By remembering our spiritual practices.
If we align ourselves in spiritual practices that open our hearts, they enable us to go within and get out of our egos and our heads, and into our hearts and souls. The practice of prayer, meditation and contemplation are extremely useful tools to get out of the mind/ego and into our heart/soul.
Resistance is not always a negative thing. Remember that resistance is also balance. If we didn’t resist throughout the day, we would do certain things.
So pat yourself on the back for resisting staying in bed all day, resisting eating that larger portion of food on your plate, resisting a reaction to someone’s unacceptable action or words. There are countless ways that resistance is just as good as in our daily lives.
Balance is the key. We work hard, but remember to take time out to thank God for all that we have. We appreciate our family and are grateful that we can enjoy them. We might be getting older, but thank God for that opportunity.
What are some things you have resisted that need changing and some things that you resisted that helped you this week?
Namaste,
Michael
To sign up to receive newsletters and updates from Michael, scroll to the bottom of the Ah-Man Website. You’ll find additional information and resources in the latest issue of the Ah-Man Newsletter. Read about his new book, Returning to WHOLENESS… Discovering Ah-Man at Amazon.
