What Are You Resisting And How Is It Helping or Hurting You?

We’ve all felt it, that internal tug of war between what we know we should do and what we actually do. Resistance. It shows up as procrastination, avoidance, anxiety, and sometimes even burnout. But here’s the real question: What are you resisting—and how is that resistance helping or hurting you?

The answer might change your life.

Resistance is often misunderstood. It’s not always laziness or lack of discipline. It’s fear, masked in logic. It’s your subconscious mind trying to protect you from discomfort, change, or perceived danger even when that “danger” is simply growth.

In fact, according to neuroscientists, the brain is wired to seek safety and familiarity. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats, reacts to uncertainty or potential failure the same way it reacts to physical danger. That’s why stepping outside your comfort zone can feel so intimidating it literally feels unsafe.

A 2022 study by the American Psychological Association found that 68% of people report avoiding meaningful change due to fear of failure or not feeling “ready.” That’s nearly 7 out of 10 people choosing stagnation over potential transformation.

But here’s the kicker: resisting the very thing we need to face often causes more damage than doing the thing itself. Emotional stress, chronic dissatisfaction, missed opportunities, and even physical illness can stem from prolonged inner conflict.

So again what are you resisting?

Sometimes resistance helps. It can be a sign that something’s out of alignment with your values. It might be your inner wisdom saying not this way. But more often, resistance is the soul’s signal that growth is ahead. That there’s a next level waiting—and your ego is scared to lose control.

Ask yourself:
• What’s one thing I’ve been avoiding that I know would make my life better?
• Am I resisting this because it’s wrong—or because it’s right and I’m afraid to change?
• What’s the cost of doing nothing?

Tim Ferriss said it best: “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”

Think about that. The conversation you’re avoiding? The career leap you keep putting off? The boundary you’re afraid to set? These are not random fears they are direct doorways to freedom, clarity, and expansion.

When you lean into your resistance, you unlock power. You begin to build a new identity—one aligned with courage, truth, and purpose.

Awareness is the first step. Journal or say out loud what you’re resisting. Don’t sugarcoat it. Own it. “I’m resisting launching my program.” “I’m resisting having that hard conversation.” Naming it removes its power.

Sit with the discomfort. What’s beneath the resistance, fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of not being good enough? Allow the emotion to come through. Most fear dissolves when we stop running from it.

Take a small step with the fear. Not after it’s gone, but while it’s still whispering. Action creates confidence. Even a 5-minute commitment toward what you’re resisting breaks the pattern.

Challenging Questions to Ask Yourself Right Now
• If I weren’t afraid, what would I do differently this week?
• What story am I telling myself that keeps me stuck?
• Who would I be if I let go of this resistance?
• How is this resistance protecting me and how is it keeping me from the life I want?
• What would it feel like to be free?

Resistance is not the enemy. It’s a compass. It points directly to the areas in our lives where expansion is possible. When we stop avoiding and start approaching what scares us, we begin to align with our true self, not the one ruled by fear, but the one rooted in freedom and possibility.

Don’t numb it. Don’t fight it. Don’t explain it away.
Instead, get curious about your resistance. Ask it what it’s trying to protect. Thank it, and then walk right through it.

Because on the other side of resistance? Is everything you’ve been looking for.

Explore my coaching for high performers and discover how to move from resistance to results.