Mastery: How To Acknowledge And Overcome Self-Sabotage

Issue No. 15 | April 10th, 2023 | Read Time: 3 Minutes

Happy Monday Everyone!

There's an enemy inside each and every one us, it can't be seen or touched, but it's sole aim is to push us away from doing our work. 

This form of self-sabotage is known as

Resistance

. A term originally coined by Steven Pressfield, he explains that Resistance is this force inside of us that will lie and deceive you just to take you away from what's important. 

It can take the form of procrastination, drugs, alcohol, and endless scrolling on social media because these are all things that provide temporary pleasure and takes us away from doing our work.

Resistance ultimately wants you to remain in the comfort zone because whenever you're outside of it is when positive change occurs. And this is what Resistance fears the most. 

It fears that you have the capability to succeed, because with success comes comes the possibility of a new life. So Resistance will do whatever it can to pull you away from your ultimate path just so you can remain where you are. 

The best thing you can do to acknowledge Resistance is to perceive it as another person. Practically a bully who keeps dragging you by the arm and tricks you into hanging out with them at home where it's comfortable. 

If you can view Resistance as an actual bully rather than just a form of your unconsciousness, you'll be more prone to stop it before it stops you. 

But how can we stop this bully who's sabotaging our lives? It starts with putting your body in the environment where your goals take place.

Showing up is half of the battle, and Resistance is ultimately trying to prevent you from taking that first step so once you show up to at least take one step, you'll find that inner voice begin to fade away just as quickly as it was heard.

And finally, use Resistance to your advantage. Steven Pressfield says that

"the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it." 

Meaning that if you feel some form of hesitancy towards something, head directly towards it because

if it meant nothing to us, there would be no Resistance.

Use it as a compass and you'll come to realize that Resistance can be beaten. It all depends on which person you decide to listen to. (1) The bully who's practically forcing you to accept your life how it is, or (2) the person that knows exactly what must be done and is willing to take action outside of their comfort zone.

Because no change has ever happened in the comfort zone, so stop listening to the voice that is telling you what you

want

to do, and follow the voice that is telling you what

need

to do. 

Until next time,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

I'm now reading

Mindset

by Carol S. Dweck, a book on how to maximize your potential in different areas of your life. 

• If you'd like to see my notes pertaining to any of the other books I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." — Henry Ford