Resistance’s greatest hits
"The following is a list, in no particular order, of those activities that most commonly elicit Resistance:
1. The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional.
2. The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise.
3. Any diet or health regimen.
4. Any program of spiritual advancement.
5. Any activities whose aim is the acquisition of chiseled abdominals.
6. Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction.
7. Education of every kind.
8. Any act of political, moral, or ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves.
9. The undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others.
10. Any act that entails commitment of the heart–the decision to get married, to have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship.
11. The taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity.
In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity.
Or, expressed another way, any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any of these acts will elicit Resistance."
- Steven Pressfield, Do The Work!
I don’t usually highlight exact passages from books, but I thought this list from Pressfield was too good not to share — sure, I could have tried to summarize it all and pass it off as my own, but I wanted to give full credit where credit was due.
Do any of the examples of Resistance’s Greatest Hits resonate with you?!?
In this case, I don’t think resonance is a good thing–it’s not necessarily bad either, but it’s something to recognize, diagnose, and develop a plan to work through, because on the other side of the Resistance is what you want, and if you’re reading this Note, will probably move you closer to your authentic Self and life.
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
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