Now that you have a sense of how you experience resonance and resistance in your life, here are a few guidelines to work more effectively with these two very powerful forces.
Learning through Resonance and Resistance
I like to think about resonance and resistance as key indicators for my own personal growth that challenge me in my ability to stay present and engaged with others. As a helping professional, there may be many times that you feel resonance with someone you are working with or alternatively, resistance to what someone else is saying or doing. Maintaining awareness about your level of resonance or resistance can help you to come back to the moment and to your role in that moment – and provide you with the opportunity for reflection later if something arises that when explored, could lead you to deeper levels of self-connection.
When you are exposed to new or different ideas, resonance and resistance can be very helpful guideposts. When something resonates with you, you are more likely to feel engaged, interested and curious to know more. It will feel exciting and you may experience a sense of validation.
Resistance doesn’t always feel so exciting. You might notice greater levels of frustration and irritation. You might lose focus, disconnect or even become defensive because the information just doesn’t sit with you. There is something here for you.
It is not about changing your mind or accepting the unacceptable. It is about challenging your mind and practicing curiosity, willingness, and non-judgement. Your capacity for critical thinking and creativity will be exercised at these times. And sometimes, resistance is there to guide us back to the path of resonance – just telling us where not to go.
It’s All Good
As much as we might like to think that we ideally want to communicate with people and ideas that feel in resonance with us ALL the time, it is not likely, nor is it necessarily desireable.
I think when we are working on key projects in our lives – perhaps, the beginning stages of something – when we are already challenging ourselves to take a big step – then at these times, it is in our best interest to work with those we have a sense of affinity with.
When we want to go really big – somewhere we haven’t gone before – solve a long-standing complex problem – then we want a bit of resistance. Artists and writers look at this kind of resistance as creative tension. This is the only place that we can actually birth something new – see something differently.
We Need Both
Resonance and resistance – like so many things in life – exists on a continuum. We want both – resonance helps us feel safe, comfortable, secure, known and resistance pushes us out into new spaces, helps us to take risks and be adventurous and creative – innovative.
Learn to be open and tuned in to both experiences in your life. And learn to ask each what they are telling you – what you are learning – what is the gift. Only you can decide and feel this information.
Feeling your way through this experience is the most beneficial approach. You can’t really think resistance or resonance even though your thoughts may be part of the process.
Your ability to tap into the feeling of either is your quickest route to identifying it in the first place and then accessing the information you need as part of your intuitive process.
Let’s get started!
Where in your life are you experiencing resonance? What about resistance? What are you learning from both situations?
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