WHAT YOU RESIST, PERSISTS!
This Week’s Sophic Soul Challenge: “WHAT YOU RESIST, PERSISTS!”
“Resistance is Futile!” This phrase was made popular in two great movies from the past: Dr. Who (1965) and Star Trek 3rd Generation (1996) when Captain Picard is battling assimilation into the Borg! Whereas I loved both movies, the concept is much, much older, and not the subject of a movie, but real life!
Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist Carl Jung (1875-1961), states
“WHAT YOU RESIST, PERSISTS!”
In fact, Dr. Jung also noted that when humans resist, block, deny or beat themselves up about a situation – that situation doesn’t only persist, it gets BIGGER!
Dr. Jung postulated that we humans put ourselves in jeopardy whenever we have constant resistance to any aspect of ourselves, whether it is our memories, personality traits, belief in our destinies, or any other deep part of our unique human experience that causes us to hide or deny our feelings of shame, fear, worry, harm, or grief. About 100 years ago he stated that when any human denies or refuses to confront and deal with any part of themselves or their experiences, they risk “fracturing their psyche.” And, once fractured, Dr. Jung believed it would be difficult – if not impossible to be and act as a whole, healthy person in daily life. He believed we are only able to have joy through acceptance of our true selves, using all aspects of ourselves to live a full and happy life. He made compelling arguments that when we resist seeing and coming to terms with our own TRUTHS, well then, we get and attract more and more of what we most fear and hide from! And, as the things we don’t want get bigger and nastier through our own refusal to address and resolve them (read: resistance), our true happiness and inner light cannot help but get smaller and smaller!
Ancient yogis from the Vedic culture as far back as 1500 BCE also knew that was true! They believed that when each of us is born, we come to this lifetime with open arms – excited to experience joy with an expectation that our lives will be filled with wonderful things. But, as we grow and experience life’s trials, traumas, or negative situations and emotions, we begin to shut ourselves off from life – fearful that more life might lead to more hurt. Just as Carl Jung knew, so too did the ancients know if we did not address and processed them, they would accumulate within our energetic being (chakras) and stay blocked within our bright and shiny aura, causing blocks in life to all the wonderful things that are meant for each of us. Another way of looking at it, resistance inhibits flow. Picture a stream, full of rocks and debris and garbage, so much so that the clean water cannot pass through it. You are not so different! When the resistance builds up within your physical being, your life, and your emotional self, all the good and healthy energy and creative and healthy flow you are supposed to be experiencing can’t reach you!
From the ancients to Jungian psychology to modern pop culture, I think we all can agree that resistance is futile and indeed over time – HARMFUL! And, maybe even more so as our modern world has become so stressful, fast-paced, and impactful through technology and the constant barrage of information and interaction we each endure each day.
This week, we will focus on identifying WHAT we RESIST in our lives that might be holding us back from the FLOW and the TRUE GLOW of our infinite light being! Next week, we will explore release mechanisms and rituals, and ceremonies that might help you to process and release your resistance all the way to the other end of the spectrum: RESOLUTION!
This Week’s SOUL CHALLENGE: WHAT YOU RESIST, PERSISTS!
The Challenge: This week we will only focus on what we resist. What we run away from, a memory, a person, a worry, or even our destiny. (Next week, we work on how to stop resisting, but rather LEANING into what we most fear to get through it and get RID OF IT!)
Preparation: Get out your journal and breathe. Simply breathe at your rhythm and pace. Before you begin to journal about “uncomfortable territory” …i.e., about the things you are resisting, fearing, worrying about, blocking… first, let’s get centered. So, before you begin to create your list, get into your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the center of calm where fight and flight cannot exist!
Take a moment to bring both your shoulders up to your ears and let them drop with a big sigh. This is a cue to your body and mind that you are preparing to relax your nervous system. Do this a few times until you begin to feel even calmer. Then, begin six breath cycles of breathing through your nose for the count of 4, and then blow out for a count of 6 while your mouth is pursed, like you are blowing through a straw This is actually called “straw breath” and it is a terrific tool if you are ever feeling anxious, nervous, scared or out of control!
Step 1: Simply complete the following question: “What do I RESIST in my life?”
When you ask yourself this question, do not force an answer, simply let your mind easily identify the answer. Also, take time, and don’t be in a rush. If nothing immediately comes to mind, just sit and breathe your straw breath, and allow thoughts to emerge. Keep your straw breathing going, or resume it, if you begin to feel anxious or upset - remembering you are just to be “witnessing” the subject of resistance, and not experiencing it again!
Prompts to Support the Identification of Your RESISTANCE:
1. Are there parts of myself that I hide from others? Hide from myself?
2. Do I have memories, feelings, or past trauma that I refused to look at, that might be holding me back in some way?
3. Have I processed my past in a positive way, where I accept ALL that I am today – the good, the bad, and the ugly?
4. Are their situations, memories, or people that I avoid or am scared of that impact my ability to true happiness?
5. Do I embrace life and my perfect future with ease and excitement, or is there dread that I hold on to in some way about some things?
6. Do I live my life fully, or do I hold onto guilt, shame, worry, or fear? If I don’t live fully, what makes me feel guilty? Ashamed? Worrisome? Or downright, Fearful?
7. Am I ready to stop resisting what plagues me in order to achieve resolution toward an exciting path forward? If I am not ready, what is stopping me?
This week, we will focus on identifying what we resist in our lives that might be holding us back from the FLOW and the TRUE GLOW of our infinite light being! Next week, we will explore release mechanisms, tools, and rituals that might help you to process and release your resistance all the way to the other end of the spectrum: RESOLUTION!
Until Next Time,
Live Well, Love Well, Lightwell the World
