by Michelle Kirsch
If you’ve been in business for any length of time, then you’ve likely faced resistance at one point or another.
Maybe you’ve resisted following up with potential clients because you didn’t want to bother them or seem like a pest. Maybe you’ve resisted hiring a support staff because you weren’t sure if you could afford it or you thought it was easier to just do it yourself. Or maybe you’ve resisted raising your rates or dealing with a challenging client because you didn’t feel confident taking action.
Whatever you’ve been resisting, know that you are not alone!
Resistance can pop up for a number of reasons. Often we resist tasks that are outside of our comfort zone. And sometimes, we might not even know why we’re resisting an action at all!
If that’s the case for you, then these five steps for examining your resistance will help you to uncover why you’re not taking the action you know you should and how to overcome it.
Step 1: Write down the specific action you are resisting.
For example, are you resisting hiring help, raising your rates, attending a networking event, writing articles for your blog?
Be as specific as possible about exactly what actions you are resisting.
Step 2: Observe how taking that action would make you feel.
Imagine if you were to take the action that you wrote down in Step 1. What feelings come up for you?
Do you feel afraid because it’s something you’ve never done and you’re not sure what the outcome would be? Does it make you feel uncomfortable or vulnerable because you’re afraid that people might judge you? Or maybe you feel frustrated because you’ve taken a similar action in the past and it didn’t work out well for you.
Step 3: Write down any good or bad consequences that could come from taking the action.
Again, think about the action that you’re resisting from Step 1. List anything that could happen from taking that action—good or bad.
Step 4: Decide whether the action is worth taking.
After writing down all of the potential good and bad consequences in Step 3, ask yourself how likely the consequences are. Are there more good consequences than bad? Do you feel that the potentially bad consequences are worth the risk?
Step 5: Take action or tweak the action.
At this point, you have investigated what action you are resisting, why you are resisting that action, any possible outcomes and finally whether you feel that action is worth taking.
If you still feel unsure, ask yourself if there is a way to tweak the action or change the action so that you will feel more comfortable. Think outside the box – can you approach the situation differently? Is there another way?
The goal of this whole process is to help you uncover whether you are resisting something that feels uncomfortable but would still be beneficial to you, or whether you are resisting something because it truly isn’t aligned with you.
Fear around taking a new action is normal and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Fear is there to protect us from anything we haven’t experienced before and therefore don’t know what the consequences will be.
Sometimes, we can determine logically that the consequences will be small enough that we can push through the fear. Other times, we really need to go within and ask ourselves whether we are feeling fear combined with excitement or fear combined with dread.
If there’s a heavy feeling associated with taking an action, that you know something is not right. Maybe you just need a different approach or maybe a different direction. These steps will help you uncover what your inner voice is trying to tell you.
Don’t be afraid of trying something new, even when you are feeling that resistance. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish!
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Michelle Kirsch is a transformational coach who helps women get clear & confident about how to build a business that feels authentic and supports their lifestyle.
After a decade working as a marketing professional and instructor, Michelle immersed herself in learning powerful coaching techniques to help her clients create change on the inside first. She brings her own unique blend of personal development, practical tips, and fun into her coaching business.
For fresh ideas and inspiration to get the clarity and confidence you need to reach your goals, visit, http://michellekirsch.com.
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