Resonance and Resistance – two internal responses that I have found to be so useful in the process of not only hearing my intuition, but also trusting and following it. One often feels more fun than the other!

In this first part, we’ll explore these responses and how we might experience each in terms of our feelings and physical sensations.

Resonance

What does it mean to have something resonate for you? How do you define that personally? You might not even like the word – it is used a great deal today and that can sometimes make us sick of hearing it!

Resonance could also be referred to as reverberating, vibrating, echoing, resounding, ringing – as in “this rings a bell” or “this rings true for me.” When something resonates with us it has an effect on us and it feels familiar.

Something that rings true to us is easy to fit in to our existing frame of reference. It might help us expand our thinking through a process of validation or through creating a space where we are suddenly able to name something or identify a feeling more clearly – one that was always there.

When we resonate with someone or something, we feeling attuned to that person or situation. We know it inside of our hearts and souls.

We can also expect to experience this same kind of familiarity and knowing when we are tuned into our intuition because that is what intuition feels like. It is peaceful and calm and gentle and quiet – most of the time. If we have been ignoring our intuition, situations may appear to get more chaotic – our feelings more jumbled – as a means of getting our attention. However, once the dust settles – we emerge from our emotional tailspin – the next step is usually quite peaceful and calm. Now, we simply know and are willing to follow the guidance.

Resistance

So, what about resistance? What does that feel like for you? Where in your body do you notice resistance when it arises? What thoughts run through your mind in a state of resistance?

Resistance also shows up as struggle, conflict, opposition, fighting, repression, forces moving against each other, and confrontation. Just as in states of resonance, we can experience resistance with other people, external situations or simply within ourselves. Regardless of what might trigger either state of being, the experience of resonance or resistance always occurs within.

Often in times of resistance, we might feel a sense of constriction in our bodies, a battle of opinions in our minds, a roller coaster of emotions that lead to feeling completely exhausted. There is nothing like mental and emotional exhaustion. I would much rather be physically exhausted at the end of the day and have a clear mind and heart! That’s just me.

When we find ourselves in resistance, it can be tempting to avoid, escape, shutdown – anything to move away from that state. We resist the resistance. And in turn, we create even more resistance.

It is natural to experience resistance when you are faced with something you don’t like – or someone. You might feel a sense of struggle when you become aware of emotions or thoughts that are unpleasant. The most natural response seems to be to oppose what you don’t like. And nothing could be further from the truth.

Accept the Resistance

Resistance is in fact, the point of our suffering. The source. In resistance, our dark emotions get darker and our thoughts become more destructive. And nothing changes. It is not necessary to move into a state of resonance with what triggers resistance, however, it is to your benefit to move into a state of acceptance. Remember, acceptance does not imply agreement – it doesn’t mean you like what is happening. It simply means that you accept it for what it is in this moment.

It can be helpful to explore resistance when it arises as a means of gaining deeper understanding of yourself. What is pushing my buttons right now? What is getting my back up? Where is this defensiveness coming from? What am I afraid of? And then stay with yourself as you let down your guard and release the resistance one little bit at a time. Depending on your personal situation and experience, this can happen quickly or it can be a longer process. Sometimes, just accepting that you are in a state of resistance can help to ease the discomfort.

In Part Two, we’ll talk about gleaning all the learning you can through exploring your experiences of resonance and resistance in your life. Stay tuned!

Let’s get started!

See if you can identify the physical sensations that you experience in either state of resonance and resistance.

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