Resistance: August 23 - 29

This week, I reflect on resistance and practice. Many mornings I'm inclined to ditch meditation. Common excuses include:

• I don't feel like it

• I've got more important things to do

• I'm just too busy

I'm certain you have your own variations. Let me say upfront, sometimes these are totally legit. When I'm sick, extra sleep is exactly what my body needs. Occasionally, family really does need my immediate attention. In these situations, the wise thing to do is to skip or reschedule meditation and attend to life. However, many times, these half-hearted execuses are actually signs of resistance.

For me, restistances usually feels like laziness or avoidance of something uncomfortable, like have a difficult conversation. At the gym, resistance is a good thing. Pushing past my usual limits is the way to get stronger. In mindfulness, resistance might be an opportunity to get really curious and explore what is underneath the avoidant feelings.

Practice

Resistance is an odd thing. It can actually serve as the object of mindfulness. Allow me to share my experience.

🏋🏻‍♂️Own It

I love my job as a federal contractor and technical trainer, but I've had all sorts of feelings lately. I've watched friends lose their jobs; I'm expected to do more with less; it feels like I'm losing part of my humanity. It is unfair and I want it all to go away. I don't like it all. It feels like sludge jamming my heart.

🏋🏻‍♂️Feel It

No surprise, these feelings of resistance show up whenever I sit down to meditate. I could ignore them or push them away, but mindfulness teaches me to notice and pay attention. How does resistance make me feel? Where does it show up in my body? How intense is it? How overwhelming is it? What happens if I allow myself to sit with it?

🏋🏻‍♂️See It

So, that is exactly what I did. I spent several minutes investigating the discomfort. I wanted to blame my bosses, the current administration, and mean people in general. Righteous indignation can feel so good. But in a moment of honesty, I admitted to myself, I wasn't going to quit my job. I need a paycheck and health insurance. I'm doing the best I can do in a difficult situation. I also realized if I were in a position of leadership, I don't know what I would do differently. Resistance generally shows up when something I value feels threatened. What do I value? What am I trying to protect?

🏋🏻‍♂️Benefit from It

As I continued to sit with all of this, what had seemed so black and white at the beginning, shifted into something else. No matter my feelings, certain aspects are beyond my control. I don't like the situation but instead of trying to push a boulder up a hill, what would it feel like if I let go? What if I stopped trying to do the same thing over and over again but focused my energy on the places where I can make a difference? What if I learned from resistance, rather than reacted to it. Mindfulness challenges me to examine the bigger picture. Mindfulness just might transform resistance into an opportunity for empathy and understanding.

🏋🏻‍♂️Try It For Yourself

Do you struggle with resistance? Maybe your issue is anger. Or restlessness. Or whatever. Use mindfulness to own it, feel it, see it, and ultimately benefit from it.