What’s the one thing you know you need to do or even want to do, but you just aren’t doing it? There’s resistance there in some form, and now it’s time to slay that dragon and overcome resistance that’s stopping you from getting what you want and need.

And I’ve got a secret for doing just that.

Here is the story: I wanted to exercise more. I WANTED to. I know ALL the research. Exercise is tied to feeling better, being healthier, living longer (hello, anyone remember Jim Fix?)…. I don’t need to convince ANYONE that exercise is good for the body.

I WANTED to exercise more. As you age your body “settles”. To be perfectly frank with you, I hate that my body is settling… Things are going in only one direction and that’s down… my cheeks, my boobs, my butt… down down down.

But I needed to overcome resistance first

I started. I added a new little running program to my schedule. Here’s what I discovered.

The body may still be falling, but the MIND responds well to exercise.

Each time I get back from my little “Couch to 5K” “run” I feel great! I’m in a terrific mood because: I DID IT!!!

And what, you might ask, did I actually do? Run a bit? NO!!! I mean, yes, I did do that. But what I REALLY did was so much more than that. What I did was slay my biggest dragon: I OVERCAME MY RESISTANCE!!!

You see, the biggest battle I fight is against MYSELF. I am my own worst enemy. And it makes me fricken crazy. (OK, that is the second time in two weeks I’ve used that word… it was stolen from Noreen… sisters can have that kind of influence on you.)

Maybe you’ve been there as well. You WANT to do something, but you can’t get your butt out of the chair… it’s super glued down… what’s that source of incredible resistance?

You have many excuses…And this is for something you WANT to do!! That’s the amazing part. There’s some resistance holding you back.

What does it take to overcome resistance?

You might notice that people generally don’t want to be pushed. They don’t want these high expectations on them because it’s such a burden to live up to those expectations.

People RESENT being held accountable for what THEY SAY THEY WANT TO DO!!!!

BAM. There it is. Let that sink in. The full impact. Where can you see that in your own life?

You want to eat well, but the chocolate chip cookies are right there in the cabinet… calling your name… the call of the sirens… filling your head… tie yourself to the mast… resistance is hard, impossibly hard.

Or maybe you want to read more, or have more quality time with your family, or stop smoking… whatever it is. It’s HARD, even when you want to do it.

Even though you say that is what you WANT to do.

OK. You get the message. How do you overcome the resistance to actually do what you want to do? How can you rise up to your potential if you can’t even control yourself?

Glad you asked, Watson. There’s a way.

Overcome resistance with this secret

You remember what I said ages ago. A quote from Jim Rohn, you become the five people you hang out with… be careful who you hang with. (Read more about your five big influencers here)

Well, get this: What if you start to hang out with people who expect MORE from you? People who see you as so much more than you see yourself? Those who don’t have all these preconceived notions about you? People who can’t hear the trash talk that goes on in your head and if they did hear that trash they would respond with words unfit to print in Gmail? (or even for my little fingers to type…). They wouldn’t accept that bullcr*p from you or ANYONE.

That trash talk in your head? Banish it.

Haha, you say. Easier typed than done. How do you banish the head trash talk? Possible!!!

Create a new dialogue in your head. When you hear that stuff, say, “I’ve got this.” “I’ve got this.” “I can do this.” “Thanks for your opinion, I can handle this on my own.”

I’ve been working on learning a new computer program recentely. It’s not easy-peasy. I could hear that old trash talk invading my cranium: you s*ck at technology, you’ll never get this, you’re too old to learn a new software package—you still get stuck in Excel… you can’t even figure out Canva… how are you going to get this?

Stick with it

But I’ve stuck with it. I told myself I could do it. Stick with it. Don’t throw in the towel. Get out of my comfort zone. Overcome resistance!

The fog is beginning to clear. The course is 12 weeks. They would have planned a three-week course if they thought we would get it in three weeks. But they didn’t. So why should I expect myself to get in three weeks? My own unrealistic expectations set me up for failure. But I am sticking with it and doing something major:

I ask a question when I don’t understand something.

How simple is that!

At first, I held back. I didn’t want them to think I wasn’t getting it or that I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out. But heck, I wasn’t figuring it out and it was completely frustrating! I stopped listening to my critical self-talk about if I was smart enough, I would get this.

So I finally asked for clarification. They explained the nuances to me and I got it. Then guess what? Not five minutes later, one of the guys asked the same question! After we had already been through it, and he still didn’t get it. It’s a hard concept. It wasn’t just me. Others were having a challenging time as well.

And that’s what you often miss. If you’re stuck, most likely someone else is stuck as well. It takes balls to ask the question. But what happens when you ask the question? Then you’re in the arena!

You’re:

• a part of the solution.
• not the only one trying to overcome resistance.
• not sitting in the stands hoping someone else will address your problem.
• taking control of the situation.
• moving the circle of comfort further out, extending your comfort zone.

Wow. I had a lot to say this week.

Let me boil this down:

1. Your biggest enemy is your own RESISTANCE.
2. Resistance is a monster to overcome.
3. To overcome your resistance, hang out with people who expect more from you so you can rise up to new levels.
4. Stick with it even when it seems impossible.
5. Ask questions for clarification.
6. Don’t let trash talk rule your mind. Stop it with a rebuttal: I’ve got this babe! Hang loose Mother Goose!

Overcome resistance where it’s interfering in your life

So this week, you’re charged with paying attention during your days to where resistance is interfering with your life. Where do you want to do something but don’t because something is interfering?

Now resistance can come disguised in many cloaks. He can seem so logical and realistic. So perfectly reasonable. Don’t be fooled! He is the demon! You must slay resistance to achieve your goals and be the best you can be.

And why should you settle for anything less? You deserve it!

Now rock on!

Have a great week!

Best,

Alicia

PS: Don’t let resistance keep you from forwarding this to at least five friends! I have recently cleaned up my list and I want to expand my reach. So please take two minutes and forward Monday Morning Motivation to a minimum of five people! Thanks a ton!

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