Resistance

“Most of us have two lives.  The life we live, and the unlived life within us.  Between the two stand resistance.”  Steven Pressfield

My sister recommended that I read a book called The War of Art. That's where the quote for this week comes from. The author, Steven Pressfield, is full of insight and experience with examining and identifying obstacles in life that keep us from being all we were meant to be. Here’s how one of Pressfield’s early chapter's begins:

“Have you ever brought home a treadmill and let it gather dust in the attic, Ever quit a diet, a course of yoga, a meditation practice?  …Have you ever wanted to be a mother, a doctor, an advocate for the weak and helpless; to run for office, crusade for the planet, campaign for world peace, or to preserve the environment?  Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be?  Are you a writer who doesn’t write, a painter who doesn’t paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture?  Then you know what Resistance is.”

Can you relate to this? I sure can. I have found myself up against this nasty fellow called Resistance many times, whether it’s trying to get my house organized, or writing that book I’ve been talking about for years.  But to be honest, I never really personified it before.  Once I did, I visualized what a creepy, crawly, calculating creature this vaporous, blob is.  As I was reading through the book I began to imagine a force slithering through my life, targeting my weak flesh and poor habits in order to find out where there was an opening for him to enter in; thus able to sabotage and create havoc on my journey to realizing my dream. (Maybe I've been watching to many Sci-Fi movies?). Here's how Pressfield describes resistance.

“Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet.  It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease, and erectile dysfunction.  To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit.  It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.  If you believe in God (and I do) you must declare Resistance evil, for it prevents us from achieving the life God intended when He endowed each of us with our own unique genius.”

I must say, this author has planted a new awareness in me of the importance of arming ourselves for this ongoing battle against Resistance. We need to learn the ways of a warrior, and shield ourselves from that dark shadow that lures behind corners, ready to plunge its poisonous tentacles into our desires, and our dreams. Steven Pressfield touches a raw nerve of mine when he writes:

“Look in your own heart.  Unless I’m crazy, right now a still small voice is piping up, telling you as it has ten thousand times, the calling that is yours and yours alone.  You know it.  No one has to tell you.  And unless I’m crazy, you’re no closer to taking action on it than you were yesterday or will tomorrow.  You think Resistance isn’t real?  Resistance will bury you.”

Whoa.... that gives me the chills, does it you? I, for one, am going to read more about defeating this enemy whose name is Resistance…..And of course, I promise to share my insights with you, and I hope you'll do the same.

Post your thoughts on the blog, or email me, Karen, at smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/karen.spencer.5283166?ref=tn_tnmn
 

 

 

The Words We Speak

"Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man." Matthew 15:17-18

 

I have been reflecting on my last year’s small steps and goals. I made a list of what I learned (or relearned) over the last twelve months. Things like; small steps can bring big results in my life, and I learned that I can change my mind and change my brain. I also became much more aware of the power of the words that we speak.

During our last summer's seminar, 'changing our minds and our brains', I spent quite a bit of time researching, reflecting and talking about the power of words.(http://smallsteps4bigresults.blogspot.com/2012/07/frame-your-world-with-your-words-detox.html)  Every since that time, I’ve been more aware of the words I, and others, say ....... The words we speak are so powerful, are they not?

In one of my recent public speaking classes, I asked my students to share an anecdote with us of a time when they learned a valuable lesson. One student told us that she had a bad habit of saying things to her friends to tease them and she admitted that sometime she would even say hurtful things to them. Then, when they acted like she had offended them, she would quickly laugh and say, "Just kidding".

She said her Pastor saw her doing this one time and told her, "You know, Teresa, there's no such thing as 'just kidding'. The words out of our mouth come from our heart. And if you are really honest with yourself you would probably agree that you are saying something that is in your heart." She said she thought a lot about what her Pastor had said, and realized he was right. She admitted that she knew it sounded silly, but she believed that it was like a 'free pass' to say the hurtful things, as long as she was quick to smile and say, 'just kidding'. Teresa said she believed that a lot of us think we have that same ‘free pass’ when we’re angry at someone. We think that because a person makes us mad, that gives us 'a pass' to spew our hurtful words.

She ended her anecdote by reminding us that there is no such thing as 'just kidding' and ‘free passes’ and that we need to take care and take responsibility for the words we speak.

Speaking of words...There is a phrase that I hear and see in print quite frequently these days.  The phrase is,"Oh.My.God!"  

I was recently reminded about the history of the name of 'God'. Did you know that 'back in the day' the Jews so revered certain names of God that they would only allow certain religious leaders to speak those names out loud, and only then under very specific circumstances.  So the common folks would substitute the name of God and put another name in its place, like 'the Holy One'.  They did this because they were afraid they might somehow slip and speak the real name of God in vain.
 

This history about the seriousness and mindfulness of speaking the Lord's name does seem to be a far cry from our flippant and casual use of God's name today.  We often hear his name spoken or texted without the least bit of reverence or thought about God.  We've even shortened the phrase so we can email or text it faster ‘OMG’. And I’m sure if you’re one of those people that use the trendy expression, ('OH. MY. GOD'), you would quickly retort that you don’t in any way speak it with the intention of trivializing God’s name.  But as we reflect on this idea: 'the words that come out of our mouth, proceed from our heart’, would you not agree that we need to think and care more about what we say, and about the power of the words we speak.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and.. words... Post it on the blog, email me at smallsteps4bigresults@yahoo.com,  or find me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karen.spencer.5283166