My trainer pointed to the green band and instructed me to slip it around my ankles and step laterally. I knew what was coming and that I’d feel the ache right up to my hips.
I could have made an excuse why I couldn’t do this particular exercise(the [persistent arthritis that inhabits my left hip, for example)—and I actually thought about it, knowing I’d be sore as hell the next day. But I knew I needed this exercise and the pain and soreness while not pleasant, was necessary and helpful in promoting muscle growth and blood flow.
For whatever reason, yesterday I abandoned my pattern of recording my food and tracking my calories. I knew I hadn’t gone crazy, yet I wasn’t feeling very good about what the scale might report back.
I could avoid the scale and try and get back on track today or I could get on the scale and deal. I chose the latter and frankly, it was ok. No harm—no foul.
Resistance can come in many forms, like avoidance and denial. The question on which to focus is the reason for the resistance.
It’s about fear, it’s about personal failure, it’s about accountability.
The fact is, I wouldn’t have died or lost a limb had I refused the exercise or avoided the scale. Nothing would have happened. But my willingness to push past the resistance brought nothing but positive, even though that voice in my head tried to convince me otherwise.
Think about where you find yourself resisting something. Ask yourself why and determine the worst-case scenario if you battle through the resistance.
The monster of fear keeps us from growing, changing and living a fuller life. When you feel the grip of resistance, ask yourself what’s holding you back and push on through. You’ll wonder what’s taken so long.
