Overcoming resistance, without armoring up, so you can say what needs to be said.

The resistance I’m talking about today is internal. It usually shows up in the form of procrastination, fear, or self-doubt when you are creating.

And it can grind things to a halt.

Like Elizabeth Gilbert, I’ve come to see resistance as creativity’s traveling companion. When it appears, I’ve found it’s best simply greet it, warmly even, and see its arrival as a sign of “being onto something good.”

Armoring up, to steel yourself against fear, doesn’t work. Nor does surrendering. In fact, from my own experience (and my work with clients), I've found it’s best to drop the battle imagery + energy entirely.

In its place, I find a practical, matter-of-fact approach does the trick, so you can keep calmly moving forward creating and making.

Here are three concrete tips to try, beginning today, to get out of your own way when resistance is making things feel hard.

Think 10.
Resistance feeds itself on "high-stakes,” that feeling that something meaningful is on the line. That’s why it often shows up when it’s time to commit, whether it’s coming up with the topic for your talk or pinpointing your creative/strategic direction for a project. 

My tip here: instead of coming up with the one idea, generate ten. Each one will seem less precious, and some even outlandish, but you are more likely to hit on your great idea (and get it out of your head and onto the page) with this approach. It’s a pressure-release valve that spurs the imagination, and insight. Which is ultimately what you are after.

Throw the Spotlight Off.
This releases pressures, by making you feeling less exposed. Stepping to the front of the room, and teaching what you know (and what you care about) can make you feel vulnerable. Likely, an evolutionary vestige of feeling exposed on the open savannah.

 How to get around this? Mix it up in your creative process, and flip your perspective to that of your audience. 

What do they know about your topic?
What is the biggest challenge for them here?
What do they not know that you do?
What would be most helpful to them? Why?

I promise if you take up residence in your audience’s mind, the resistance (and attendant emotions) will begin to dial down and you can keep working, making small deposits toward your goal.

A post-it note to resistance.
Grab a post-it note, or create a post-it note sized box on a digital document (I’m talking 3” x 3”), and jot a note to your resistance. Use the opening “Hi resistance. I noticed you're back….”  Use “both sides” of the post-it if you need more room. Sometimes resistance, like each of us, wants to be acknowledged.

While this third option may strike you as out-there, it can help get whatever self-talk or feeling that’s inside, out. Just keep it practical, level headed, and direct.

So let me know which of these three options appeals most to you. Share here.