Resisting and Its Impact
Resisting manifests in many forms including a tendency to reject, refuse, insult, separate, push away, or remove ourselves from a situation. Resisting leads to estrangement, animosity, dread, and fearfulness. Resisting is the underlying cause of anger, hatred and violence.
R Resistance is not always obvious. It can appear as a simple act of rejection—saying "no" to a proposal or refusing to engage with an idea. At other times, it takes the form of anger or hostility, expressed through insults, pushing others away, or cutting ties entirely. Whether it’s separating ourselves from uncomfortable conversations, avoiding accountability, or rejecting differing viewpoints, resistance often masks itself as self-preservation.
On a deeper level, resistance can emerge from fear—fear of the unknown, fear of change, or fear of vulnerability. These fears manifest in behaviors that isolate us from others and reinforce our biases. We push away what we don’t understand, creating an "us versus them" dynamic that breeds animosity and alienation.
I I have been paying attention to how resistance shows up for me, in the behaviors I exhibit, in how I show up, or not show up. Resistance rears its head in my life when I feel unsafe ( and sometimes that feeling is not real, its triggered by an event), when I feel like I m losing, going to be abandoned or I find the truth scary. I procrastinate, I judge myself and others, I write people off and out of my life.
The antidote to resistance is acceptance. This does not mean passive submission or agreeing to everything we encounter, but rather approaching situations with openness and a willingness to understand. Acceptance allows us to face challenges without fear, to engage with differing perspectives without hostility, and to find common ground in the face of division. Byron Katie's work has taught me so much about acceptance. She says when you resist reality you suffer. Loving what is brings a level of peace that passes all understanding. This is a process and takes not only a firm decision and commitment but also a level of trust in Self.
Practicing mindfulness can be a powerful tool in overcoming resistance. By observing our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can identify moments where resistance arises and choose more constructive responses. Empathy is another key—by seeking to understand others’ experiences and motivations, we dismantle the barriers that resistance builds.
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