Moving Through Resistance

Explicit content warning

10/17/22 • 27 min

Today, Nate explores moving through resistance. Most of us have a higher version of ourselves, but we are often impatient with ourselves and set unrealistic goals. “What if we could let go of focusing on the result of our change, and instead being on a path of change itself, be its own reward?” He references a book from Dr. Joe Dispenza, which advises having a higher vision of yourself that is so clear and associated with positive emotions, that there is no mental space for resistance.

Resistance starts with feelings, and then the thoughts that we attach to those feelings. When we have thoughts of resistance, we are not beholden to them. Sometimes, he explains, we can make an energetic choice. In making these choices, and being disciplined with them, we build new neural pathways. Being present, as self-help author Cheri Huber explains, can be achieved through simple practices. This is reiterated in the work of Julia Cameron, whose work outlines exercises that help you move into a creative flow state.

Nate shares two personal experiences in which he encountered, and eventually overcame, mental resistance. Most life challenges, he believes, can be boiled down to three choices. One: leave a situation, two: modify the situation, and three: accept the situation. Peace comes from knowing that you have the ability to make the choice. In closing, he explores the idea that death is not to be feared, which is the final lesson of letting go.

Key Topics:

Introduction (00:12)
Moving through resistance (01:05)
The path of change as a reward (02:35)
Breaking the habit of being yourself (02:59)
What causes resistance (04:17)
Making energetic choices (04:58)
Being present (07:03)
Moving into the flow state of creative energy (07:59)
Personal anecdotes (08:26)
Three approaches to life challenges (21:12)
Letting go (25:05)

Resources:

ColdWaterHotCoffee.com
Break the Habit of Being YourselfDr. Joe Dispenza
I Don’t Want To, I Don’t Feel Like ItCheri Huber
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity Julia Cameron
The Tibetan Book of the Deaddocumentary

Key Topics:

Introduction (00:12)
Moving through resistance (01:05)
The path of change as a reward (02:35)
Breaking the habit of being yourself (02:59)
What causes resistance (04:17)
Making energetic choices (04:58)
Being present (07:03)
Moving into the flow state of creative energy (07:59)
Personal anecdotes (08:26)
Three approaches to life challenges (21:12)
Letting go (25:05)

Resources:

ColdWaterHotCoffee.com
Break the Habit of Being YourselfDr. Joe Dispenza
I Don’t Want To, I Don’t Feel Like ItCheri Huber
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity Julia Cameron
The Tibetan Book of the Deaddocumentary

Previous Episode

Remembering Why You Are Here

Today, Nate builds off the previous episode’s theme of loss. You’ll now use the mission statement built in the said episode to remember why you are here in times of fear. “When our mission is clear, it's a light,” he explains. “It illuminates our path.” Everyone faces challenges in life, but control comes from the way we react to them. Fear-based behaviors often feel instinctual, and it takes effort to return to calm. Humans, unlike most animals, hold grudges. Being minded in the past results in choosing anger over peace and can lead to anxiety and depression.

Many conflicts, Nate advises, can be avoided entirely just by being present. In being present, we can recognize bad situations and avoid them. He references the concept of attraction, which says that if we are agitated and fearful, we will see people through that lens, and are more likely to attract conflict. The opposite is also true: approaching life with calmness will result in less conflict.

He then addresses the ultimate fear: death. It is inevitable for all, so why do we fear it? Nate references a Buddhist text, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, which outlines the liberation and enlightenment that death offers. There are many things we can do to release ourselves from worry, like meditations, chanting, prayer, breath work, plant journeys, and mind-emptying activities. Another simple, everyday practice to help us get outside of our minds is service, which is selfless, connects us to others, and allows us to get beyond ourselves.

Key Topics:

Introduction (00:12)
Enacting mission statements (00:43)
Reacting to fear (03:38)
Fear-based behaviors (03:59)
Grudges (05:24)
Avoiding conflict (10:03)
Fear of death (12:51)
Releasing from worry (16:55)
Utilizing service (17:33)

Resources:

Next Episode

Being In Service

Today, Nate explores how to get busy being in service. “When we're ready to contribute to the world, we're ready to be in service,” he says. “This is a fulfilling and energizing place to live in.” There are two components to service: selflessness and willingness.

In order to be in service, we have to be in a place of unconditional love for both others and ourselves. He talks about Paramahansa Yogananda, whose practices Nate himself has adopted. Icons like the Yogi, as well as Mother Teresa and Gandhi, share characteristics of selflessness: they have no ego, want nothing in return, give from a place of completeness, and are completely connected to their spirituality.

While he still gets caught up in day-to-day distractions, Nate has found he is moving in the right direction. Something he finds useful is exploring our motivations when we are in service to others.

One of the teachings of self-help author Cheri Huber is to get out of the ‘dark room’ of self-reproach, and learn the conditioning of the ego that is stuck in survival mentality. Her teachings mention Sangha, a Sanskrit word meaning association, assembly, company, or community. “Willingness is really about giving ourselves the grace to believe that we deserve to live the life that we want to live,” Nate says. Huber’s book explains that one thought process doesn’t lead to a different outcome. For example, working hard may earn you money, but it doesn’t always earn you happiness. Instead, we should focus on what will make us happy now–which is often service.

In closing, Nate challenges listeners, and himself, to release from your ego trappings and allow yourself to live authentically, and return to love, support, and service.

Key Topics: