Stop Resisting What Comes Your Way
The Key to A More Happy and Fulfilled Life
Have you ever observed the movement of waves on the ocean, how it rolls up against the shores and effortlessly plunges back far and wide, out into the vast ocean space? It’s deeply mesmerizing and yet insightful for us.
What if we stopped resisting what comes our way?
What if we sit with it and witness the space we are in?
It’s the true nature within us and the path to how we can live with more ease and peace each day. It’s so easy to focus on what we don’t want, but as you change the language you use and focus on what you WANT instead, things will start to flow and that blockage — be it emotional, mental or physical will open up to new energies and opportunities.
The goal of any true resistance is to affect outcomes, not just to vent. And the only way to affect outcomes and thrive in our lives is to find the eye in the hurricane and act from that place of inner strength. — Arianna Huffington
Instead of resisting or suppressing any emotion that comes up in difficult situations, simply witness it. Ask yourself:
What do I feel? Where do I feel it? What is this experience telling me? What can I learn from this? What will a supportive friend say to me?
These are all good questions to start asking yourself to cultivate that space within, from being reactive to responsive. We want to start acting from a place of thoughtfulness and groundedness rather than an emotionally driven and reactive space.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Viktor Frankl
Coming back to the waves in the ocean, have you ever noticed that there is a rhythm, a pause in between the natural push and pull of the tides? If we master this space, more specifically what happens in that space between a stimulus and reaction, we can thoughtfully position ourselves to choose our response!
I encourage you to start noticing how nature behaves and soak in the ebb and flow of sounds and movement in the natural environment. There is so much wisdom we can tap into when we pause and observe. As the founding father of science-based Mindfulness stress reduction (MSBR) says,
Wherever you go, there you are. — Jon Kabat-Zinn
So where are you right now? Physically, mentally, emotionally? Check in with your surroundings and check in with yourself. And remember, wherever you go, there you are — so why not enjoy the space while you are here?
If you’ve enjoyed this piece and would like to read more on mindfulness and personal development, here are some of my other work:
