Overcoming Resistance to Change- Part 2- How Resistance Expresses Itself

Now that we have explored the emotional blocks that can hinder change in our lives, it is important to identify the ways in which our resistance expresses itself.  In order to work on getting unblocked, we need to become more aware of when resistance occurs.

HERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT CAN INDICATE RESISTANCE:

Consistent use of the phrase “I know”- When we are unhappy or dissatisfied with our present circumstance, we often complain to other people, venting our frustration.  Consequently, our listener often interjects with a suggestion or encouragement about how we might make a change.    If we automatically respond with “I know”, but really don’t, this can be a way of avoiding further talk of change.  We may also truly know about what the other person is suggesting, but have not been able to act on it.  This can signify the conflict, described in the previous chapter, between our intellectual functioning and our emotional readiness to enact change.

Creating Obstacles- Whenever we step outside of what is familiar, we encounter ‘newness’.  However, our perception of what is new directly influences our ability to take a step.  Do we interpret the unfamiliar as an obstacle to achieving our goal or as a challenge which will ultimately help us to learn a new skill, develop a new talent, or add to our existing knowledge? When we learn about ways to change our situation for the better, do we find obstacles to each action?  Obstacles very often validate our fear of change and become reasons not to move forward.

Over-researching/Over-preparing- It can be beneficial to gather information and resources prior to making a change in our circumstance, however, when this step extends past a reasonable period of time, we may be avoiding making progress toward our goal. There comes a time to take action whether we feel prepared or not.  It can be helpful to establish a specific time frame as we move toward change.   

Any act of change requires an element of faith- in ourselves, other people, and the universe.  We can never know if a certain step will change our lives for the better if we do not act.

**This post can help us to think about the way our own resistance shows itself. If you would like to share your thoughts and reactions, feel free to post a comment below.

In the next chapter, we will look at ways to work through our fear in order to move forward.