The Way Through

Resistance is a part of life.

Let’s revisit how we defined it earlier:

Resistance:
The quiet, persistent force inside us that pulls us away from the work that matters most — not with shouting, but with subtle distractions, self-doubt, busyness, guilt, and fear. It shows up in many forms: perfectionism, procrastination, fatigue, even logic. It isn’t the enemy — it’s a part of us, often trying to protect us from discomfort, exposure, or failure. But it also points the way.

And what we’ve concluded might be even more important:

Resistance isn’t just what blocks the path.
It is the path.
It reveals what matters most by pushing hardest against it.

Once you see it that way — that Resistance is unavoidable — you realize that the only way forward is to live through it. You stop trying to outrun it and start learning how to walk with it.

More than that, Resistance becomes a kind of compass. It shows us where to go. The stronger the pull to avoid something, the more likely that’s exactly the direction we should be heading.

Because, as is so often the case in life, the things we try to avoid are often the very things we need to embrace. To lean into. To learn from. To get curious about.

That’s where real change begins.

Move Toward It

Whenever Resistance starts whispering (and it always whispers first), we have a choice. We can wait for motivation, or we can make a move toward it.

You’re tired and want to sleep in rather than exercise?
All the more reason to get up.

You feel too busy to pause and clear your mind?
All the more reason to sit down, breathe deep, and take five minutes.

You want to write that blog post, start that painting, create that song, or decorate that room — but just can’t find the spark?
All the more reason to “put your ass where your heart is,” as Steven Pressfield says, and start.

There’s no magic formula.

There’s just motion.

Habits, schedules, timelines, and commitments have helped me treat the work I love with the respect it deserves. Not to strip the joy out of it — but to protect it.

Which brings me back to something I wrote about earlier this year: the need for renewal. Not just annually, but whenever you feel off-track or worn down.

(If you missed that post, it’s here → The Urgency of Renewal)

The point is: when you feel Resistance starting to win, come back to the foundation.

The Four Pillars of Renewal (With Resistance in Mind)

Let’s revisit those four pillars of meaningful renewal, now through the lens of Resistance:

1. Preparation – Clear the noise.
Step back and recognize Resistance as a friend, not a foe. It’s doing you a favor by pointing toward what matters. The rest? That’s just clutter.

2. Conservation – Protect your energy like it’s sacred.
Slow down. You don’t get more done by staying busy, especially when it comes to your most meaningful work. Quiet is productive.

3. Protection – Build boundaries that stick.
Create real habits, spaces, and rituals that support your creativity. Make it easier to show up.

4. Adaptation – Flow with life’s rhythms.
Don’t beat yourself up when things get off track. Life happens. You’re not aiming for perfection. You’re cultivating a process.

These aren’t just nice ideas. They’re survival tools. A personal compass. A reset button. A reminder that Resistance isn’t a detour — it’s part of the design.

Walk With It

So that’s where I’ll leave things — not with a motivational high note, but with a practical one: When you feel Resistance creeping in, don’t panic. Don’t beat yourself up.

Instead, return to the four pillars. Take a breath under the portico they support. Give yourself a little grace, and then get back to the work in front of you.

Because the work still matters. Even when it’s hard.