When facing resistance
Snuggle closer / Issue 1,415
Oh, hi friends!
What is your resistance trying to say?
If you're unable to move forward — rather than resenting the resistance, consider what it might be telling you.
I was writing (or trying to write) something a while ago and every time I approached the idea, I felt both resistance and resentment. Looking closer, it wasn't about the task being hard. The work didn’t feel illuminating or unusual. It felt like all labor with zero payoff.
Right now I'm resisting creating deadlines or benchmarks for myself. Sure, I could blame my new "slow productivity" practices and keep claiming things need to percolate before they're ready, but this resistance is more about fear — fear of letting go, of not being good enough, judgment, etc la di da etc.
Resistance comes in all flavors. We resist when we feel like a beginner or when we don’t have enough information.
And sometimes things are simply difficult because you're distracted or hungry. But that's saying something important, too.
Get quiet. Eat lunch. Investigate the resistance. Try again.
Today's note was inspired by reader Joan Stoneking. Thanks for giving my mind something to chew, Joan!
Yay!! “Snuggle closer” the best encouragement and gentle guide to greeting Resistance and inviting it to share what’s going on. No shame, just acceptance and listening. And finding a small way forward 🫶
Wow, I am precisely here right now...I've also been writing about it a little! For me, it's the difference between resistance and percolating. Sometimes I am resisting because I'm unclear on what's next and need to do non-drafting work, and other times I'm just resisting tearing a scene apart because I know it will be hard. Great to read this today!