I was listening to a dear friend tell me about all she had to do -- and

Life is a Tangle © Patrice A Federspiel

complain that she couldn't seem to get started.

That is when I heard "Resistance" talking.

You're familiar with resistance, right?

Resistance training is what we do when we lift weights or when we push against, lift, or carry something heavy.

Resistance builds muscle.

I wondered if the resistance we feel toward doing something we don't want to do, but have to do, could actually be a good thing.

Maybe it means that if we feel the resistance and do the task anyway, we are getting stronger at that task.

For instance, when I start a new painting, even if I'm afraid I might not like the results, I'm building my painting muscle.

Yes, even though I'm a painter, sometimes I feel resistance to painting. Sometimes I fear I will muck it up so I'm afraid to start.

This fear is actually a good thing. It tells me that I am about to start something NEW and Exciting!

We are adults and we're used to being good at what we do. We've been doing our jobs for a while and have developed a fine skill set.

Whenever we try something new, we experience new beginnings and that can be scary. Each new painting is a new beginning.  

When we give in to our resistance and do something other than paint, resistance wins, we lose, and our painting muscle is weakened.

But if we feel the resistance and intentionally paint, our painting muscle is strengthened.

The next time resistance appears, welcome it, and know that without it you don't build muscle.

Make Resistance your friend, the kind you push against! Resistance can help you accomplish all that you want to do in life.