Resistance is Always There
Steven Pressfield describes Resistance as an invisible force that shows up whenever we try to do something bold, creative, or meaningful. It’s the thing that whispers excuses, delays action, feeds self-doubt, and keeps us from starting—or finishing—the work that matters most.
Ever since I read and reread his books, I can’t help but notice all the ways Resistance shows up in my own life. It rears it’s head anytime I try to do something that feels important. It’s there when I overthink, avoid, delay, distract, scroll, tidy, tweak, or suddenly convince myself that now isn’t the right time.
I feel it as much with my stonework as I do with my writing.
At this particular moment, it’s showing up like this: I have an idea I want to pitch to a former client—completely unsolicited—for an artistic stone installation on their property. I’m afraid they’ll say no, so I’m dragging my feet.
Resistance often shows up in layers. I’m also afraid the idea won’t be any good. I tell myself I can’t draw well enough to explain it to my graphic designer. And even if we nail the design and they say yes, can I even build this thing? Am I good enough? Do I even know what I’m doing? And if, by some miracle, all of that works out—will I charge enough to make it worthwhile?
Probably better not to even start.
That’s how Resistance kills your best ideas. Not with a single loud “no,” but with a steady, quiet chorus of “maybe not.” Especially the ideas that require something bold. Something that asks us to grow. To change.
I have a book I’m working on. Actually, let me rephrase that—I have an idea for a book. I haven’t started working on it yet. I’m not ready. I need to gather more information. I need to write more blog posts first. Build a bigger audience. Someday I’ll be ready to begin. Someday. Just… not today.
Pressfield is right. Resistance is insidious. And ever-present.
But there is a cure.
It’s showing up, day after day, and doing the work. It’s sitting down and doing a shitty sketch of that wall. It’s writing an unreadable first draft of the first chapter of that book. It’s starting instead of getting ready to start.
If this resonates, I recommend reading (or rereading) Steven Pressfield’s books. They’ve helped me recoginze Resistance when it shows up, and reminded me that it can be beat, but only through action:
They’re short, sharp, and worth keeping close. I find myself coming back to them again and again.
Heads up: These are affiliate links. If you buy something, I might earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. It helps support the writing, and I only recommend things I believe in.