Resistance is the first step to change.
- Louise Hay

It was a hot day here in Florida. Hell, most days are hot in Florida. I hadn't painted in a while, so I was out of practice.

On this particular day, I had a glass of ice-cold lemonade sitting on a table next to my easel and several different colors of paints laid out on a palette. I was motivated and ready to get to work on a painting.

In the beginning, I was enjoying the process, but as I began to paint, I found that it became more difficult as time went on. I felt as if the painting was becoming too complicated. It started to feel hard.

I felt stuck.

So, I decided to take a break. I told myself that I would return to it later… but I never did. And I never do, either.

I procrastinate, and each day that goes by, that half-done painting reminds me of how I have not accomplished my goal.

Resistance has shown up during various aspects of my life. At any sign of difficulty, resistance AKA "the beast," rears its ugly head.

I've been fighting resistance to writing, creating art, and getting in shape for over a year. I write this post hoping that I will continue to work on breaking this cycle of resistance to the things I know are essential to my life and my happiness.

Exercise.

I self-sabotaged and procrastinated by keeping busy with time-wasting activities. I would binge-watch Netflix shows and spend hours scrolling on social media.

I used to have this 'go hard or not at all' approach to working out. However, I now know I risk injuring myself and ending up in traction if I continue to think this way.

I cannot risk injury by going balls to the wall.

"Balls to the wall" means doing an hour of cardio, followed by an hour of strength training, only to give up if the scale doesn't reflect that one week of hard work.

I've realized I need to change how I approach exercise and losing weight. I will give it time and have patience. I know losing weight will not happen overnight.

Instead of heading immediately back to the gym, I decided to start small. I began by walking around my neighborhood and the park near my home this time.

Writing.

I've started this blog to begin writing with some level of consistency.

The discipline of writing every day is what I hope to develop. Ultimately, I would love to write a book someday. To do this, I need to have a strong writing process and need to be able to focus on a project to its completion.

"I'm too tired," "I'm not motivated," and "I don't have enough time" are just some of the many excuses I've used to me from accomplishing my goals.

I realize this is something I have always done. And it's something I wish to change.

To change means dealing with the regret of not accomplishing the goals I set for myself a long time ago.

This painting represents the little girl in me. Childhood, when it was easier to let go and find peace!
”Blowing Bubbles” - 6”x3” watercolor painting

Art.

My desire to push through the resistance that creating art can often presents will be my biggest challenge but a also most rewarding obstacle to overcome. I cannot stay in my comfort zone, and I should not continue to do what has come easy to me in the past.

I realize the only way to grow artistically is to continue to learn and master new techniques. And, sometimes, it's not supposed to be easy.

When I'm at the easel, and I'm feeling stuck, I will walk away from it to take a break. However, I will no longer procrastinate. I will keep the promise I've made to myself to return to that easel and complete the painting. It may not be considered a masterpiece to some, BUT it will be a finished work of art.

How I'm Battling This "Beast"!

It is still a battle.

I still struggle from time to time.

I understand that resistance to change is something I may never altogether remove from my life. However, my goal is not to let it stop me from accomplishing the goals I've set for myself.

The first step is to identify that I'm battling resistance, AKA "the beast." Then explore the reasons why I procrastinate or sabotage my success. I've recently decided to take steps to help me overcome the challenges that are holding me back.

Writing this blog post is one way I'm holding myself accountable. I will return here from time and read over what I've written if I feel myself falling off.

I have realized that the depression I had been feeling is a byproduct of not accomplishing my goals.

I was feeling down and having feelings of woe is me. But the truth is, I reached a point where I had to figure out how to push past these feelings.

Therapy has helped a lot.

Therapy has been very beneficial to me. When I meet with my therapist weekly, it allows me an outlet to discuss the stresses of daily life. We work together and strategize the week ahead.

There is accountability with therapy. For example, I'm given homework during my sessions, which holds me accountable.

Journal every day.

I write in a journal and vent about what I'm angry about or write a stream of consciousness. I also like to make notes about what I'm grateful for or what I accomplished that day.

I write about what I wish to accomplish the next day. That feeling of accomplishment drives me to want to do more.

I try to stay in a positive mindset. For example, I watch videos about overcoming negativity and positive self-talk, self-care, etc.

Here are a couple of videos that I love!

Stop the Negative Self Talk - Mel Robbins https://youtu.be/mbeCniTCAZU

Iyanla's Affirmations - Free Yourself From Negativity https://youtu.be/YwNwVVgPLD8

Yoga is relaxing and allows me to clear my mind. In addition, it provides me with a workout that doesn't put too much stress on my body.

Here is a link to a good one.

Easy Morning Yoga Flow | For Beginners! https://youtu.be/Dbx9yttmtAU

These are the ways I'm dealing with resistance. If you are struggling with your own resistance to change, I hope these tactics will help you too!

The biggest takeaways from my battle with resistance are:

Identify that what you're feeling is resistance to change.
Understand that it is okay to feel this way.
Make notes about the aspects of your life that you are resisting.
Know that it is okay to ask for help. If therapy is not your cup of tea, then reach out to a close friend or family member. Make sure it's someone who will hold you accountable.
Create a plan to help you push through when something is complicated or overwhelming.
Take breaks

What do you do to fight "the beast" and move toward your goals? Share in the comments below.

Xoxo,

Michelle

How I'm Slowly Overcoming My Resistance to Change — And You Can Too!