ARIEL VS. URSULA: HOW TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE
For over 20 years now, I’ve been in love with The Little Mermaid (Disney version). We’ve got a lot in common.
Like Ariel, I…
- Love purple.
- Have a Texas-sized mane of red hair.
- Am the youngest in a close-knit set of sisters.
- Possess a bit of an independent streak.
- Married a tall, dark, handsome (sailor) man in uniform.
- Had to move away from my fam and over the rainbow (ahem…Hawaii) to be with him.
- Completely lost my voice…the day before our wedding. [KID YOU NOT. That had NEVER happened before in my life (despite my best efforts to “go hoarse” at years of Backstreet Boys concerts and Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo performances), and it hasn’t happened since. Bizarre.]
- Face an evil opposition named Ursula.
Today I want to focus on tackling that last one: Ursula. How to beat the opposition and overcome resistance.
I also want to help you identify YOUR evil opposition, and give you some tools to stab that B with a trident and send her back to the depths of the ocean where she belongs.
How to Overcome Resistance
I’ve got some big to-dos on my plate this month – both personally and professionally.
We’ve got a busy fall coming up, so the past couple of weeks were the perfect time for me to get a head start. And yet, I was having an uncharacteristically tough time doing that.
The only way to explain it was “resistance.”
Funny thing is: I don’t even USE the word resistance. But I knew that’s what it was. And you know what confirmed it?
A little postcard from our local library, telling me that my copy of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield was ready for pickup.
Read The War of Art
I’d requested this book a couple of months ago and had since completely forgotten about it. Still, to avoid the $1 fine for abandoning it, I headed to the library.
When I opened up the cover and read the first few lines of Robert McKee’s foreword, I laughed.
“Steven Pressfield wrote the war of art for me. He undoubtedly wrote it for you too, but I know he did it expressly for me because I hold Olympic records for procrastination.”
At that point I knew two things:
1. This was no coincidence. This resistance (procrastination) was real, and this book was gonna help me kick it in the booty.
2. If I wanted to finish it any time soon, I’d need to buy the audio version.
And so I did. Best $11.95 I’ve spent in a while. I listened to it all the way through while decluttering closets, sorting through tiny clothes and shoes that no longer fit my little man, and commuting to and fro.
If you’ve never heard of The War of Art, you need to get a copy. ASAP. It’s a MUST-READ for, well, just about everyone I can think of.
Until you’re able to read it, though, here’s my quick summary:
Resistance is real – an evil force trying to keep you from doing what you were created to do. The stronger you feel resistance to something, the more important it is that you DO it. (Unless, of course, you’re feeling resistance to drugs or something harmful. Don’t do that.)
Also, to be a pro, you have to commit and do your work. The hardest part isn’t doing it, but starting it. So make yourself sit down every day and crank something out. It’s not a coincidence that when you sit down and make an effort, miracles happen. The words come. It’s God’s way of rewarding you for doing your work.
Bottom line: You owe it to yourself and the world to do the work you were meant to do. Do it.
Back to Ursula – The Opposition
A week or so ago I told my friend Brie how I was feeling allergic to this next big project. I was facing serious doubts – unsure if it would be worth the effort, if my clients (and future customers) would really LOVE it as much as they deserve to.
My resistance was an evil force trying to silence my voice. To keep me from sharing what I know I was created to share.
It clicked: My resistance was URSULA!
Trying to make me second-guess myself. To steal this project right out from underneath me and hide it from the world in that tacky shell necklace of hers.
NOT THIS TIME, SISTER.
The Bigger the Potential Impact, The Bigger the Resistance
What I’m working on for the fall is my biggest undertaking yet. It’s going to be a game-changer for my business, for me, and for those who sign up for it.
So really, it’s no surprise that I’m being challenged on it. It’s going to have a big impact! The dark side is intimidated by it. Doesn’t want it to come to light.
But oh, friend. It’s gonna come to light.
Once I named my resistance, saw it for what it is, I felt empowered. It’s almost fun to know that what I’m working on intimidates the hey out of Ursula. Because now I’m more determined than ever to create something of tremendous value for my clients and customers. (Take that!)
Now that I’ve identified my opposition, I know how to beat it. And I want to help you do the same.
So here you go.
How to Overcome Resistance in 6 (Deceptively Simple) Steps
1. Admit that it’s there. Be honest with yourself. Have you been avoiding a big project? Doubting that you can handle the next step? On a writing strike because, among other things, you don’t know what to blog about? Acknowledge the resistance!
2. Give it a name. Personify that blah negative energy that’s keeping (okay, repelling) you from your work. Naming it reinforces that it’s a real (albeit invisible) force you’re reckoning with.
3. Understand the WHY. Use this as an opportunity to STOP and reflect a bit. What can you learn from this resistance? Is this project going to take your business to the next level? Help a LOT of people change their lives in some meaningful way? Is there something fundamentally off with your current approach – and you need to realign before moving forward?
4. Use the WHY as a pep rally. This type of resistance only comes when you’ve got something pretty amazing in the works. Yay for YOU! Use that as fuel and encouragement to “Keep SINGING!”
5. Commit to doing the work. Nothing will hurt your Ursula more than when you sit down and do the work. Make a commitment to keep mindfully plugging forward, even when it feels like a struggle. No one else can create this for you.
6. Share it with the world. Put your work out there. Let it change your life and the lives of your dream clients, customers, and readers. Be proud and share your voice.
Then watch your Ursula sink straight to the bottom of the ocean.
NOTE: This isn’t the last time I’ll reference The Little Mermaid or The War of Art. I’m kind of obsessed with them both. There’s a lot more to say about resistance too.
If you liked this post, please use the buttons below to share it with like-minded amigos. Get the word out!
And if you need a little reinforcement, I’d be glad to help. (I’ve got your back!)
Ursula doesn’t stand a chance when we shine a light right on her.
In the comments below, I’d LOVE to know:
What will you name YOUR resistance? What’s the big amazing project it’s trying to keep you from starting (or finishing)?
2014 Update: I lost my voice literally days after publishing this post in 2013. HA! Aaaand now almost exactly a year later. Same thing. Also, one of my new fave ways to deal with resistance is to use EFT and tap it away. (Looks cray cray, but don’t knock it til you try it. Brad’s the man.)
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