When we work with inner parts for a while, it becomes obvious that it is about resistance. Our inner parts share their resistance to life. That resistance can show up in many ways. It can be a resistance to work (or doing anything at all). It can be a resistance to relationships with others. It can be a resistance to taking risks or living out our purpose (usually one in the same). The real forward-movement comes when we look at our resistant thoughts, not the positive thoughts.
But the mainstream self-help world wants us to believe that our healing and recovery happens when we focus on the positive. It is definitely more convenient. It feels a lot better. If we spend our time inundating our minds with positive thoughts, it is a distraction from the pain we are in. But it doesn’t work … not really. The power lies in our ability to accept our shadow self, the inner parts within who don’t believe we could ever be good enough, do well enough or even belong on this planet. If we don’t allow these parts to express, they will stay just below the surface inundating our everyday lives with resistance to what we want. And there are no mantras for our conscious mind that will overpower the unconscious. It will never happen.
We may set an intention to write that book we have always wanted to write, but our unconscious is telling us we aren’t good enough to be an author.
We may have a mantra to take more risks, but our unconscious is full of warnings about staying safe at all costs.
We may make a decision to be kinder to our child, but our unconscious is only interested in keeping everyone safe at all costs.
When we allow those unconscious messages to express in writing, it doesn’t make them more powerful. After they are expressed, they start to release. We become more aware of them and we realize they are not true. We come to understand they are based in traumatic experiences. Eventually, we are able to let go of the power they have over us and take actions based on the direction we want to take our lives. So why aren’t more of us doing this resistance work if it’s so amazingly helpful? That’s easy. This work is not fun. It is hard work and honestly, it doesn’t feel great. Here are some reasons we avoid it.
- As I mentioned before, positive thinking is the message from the mainstream self-help folks. They love to tell us the key to our success lies in our thoughts. It is about how they manifest. And that is true to a point. Our positive thoughts can manifest a beautiful life. But they won’t do that while our unconscious resistant thoughts are fighting against them. The power comes when all the conscious and unconscious thoughts are moving in the same direction.
- We believe we might get stuck in it (or send the wrong message to the universe). Many times, we believe that our resistant thoughts will manifest if we embrace them. We will end up with exactly what we don’t want. Part of this is encouraged by the mainstream self-help messages. But it is also true to some extent. When I am embracing my resistance, I don’t manifest horrible things, but I also don’t manifest a whole bunch of great things either. When I am in the thick of it, life seems to be a bit stagnant. It isn’t that much fun to be stagnant. But let’s be fair, I wasn’t going anywhere when I was ignoring it either. So I let it come and I deal with that “stuck” feeling for a while until it passes.
- Let’s face it. It’s a little depressing to admit we have these thoughts. It can be hard to love these parts. Our resistant thoughts rarely come out as rational, kind or compassionate statements. They can be mean, attacking, insulting and downright nasty. It takes a brave kind of person to admit to having these parts when society says not to show these emotions or traits. But if we can allow ourselves to feel how we feel and say what we need to say, we can heal our resistance in incredible ways. We will even shock ourselves with our progress.
So ask yourself the honest and courageous question. How are you resisting life? How is your inner talk stopping you from moving forward? Instead of blocking it, fighting it or ignoring it, can you allow yourself to embrace it? Can you get past the discomfort that comes with this resistance and let it express? Can you accept these resistant parts of you and allow what is there to be there?
In other words, can you change your life?
Thank you Elisabeth! You are a blessing!
Ha! Ha! LOL! My inner children are dancing to your words! They LOVE it!! Sooooooo true!
I can’t tell you how many times I have been told to focus only on positive thoughts or that I will manifest what I am thinking (so I better not think anything that is not positive). Yes, there is some truth there but not enough to ignore that our resistance needs to be acknowledged.
HELLO WORLD!! Did everyone all of a sudden forget about ‘balance’? You know….Yin and Yang, one doesn’t exist without the other – black & white, dark & light, joy & grief. Those who tell you to ignore your resistance are just not ‘comfortable’ with you exploring the shadows but that is their discomfort not yours. Remember – the only way out is through. There is so much JOY waiting for you on the other side of grief. 🙂 Don’t forget and remind yourself of this whenever things get a little challenging.
We have all been through the hardest part and we survived! Now we can move forward with knowledge and support from others who have walked the same path. We can mentally hold each other’s hands and hearts as we explore the resistant parts. Now it is our time to thrive!
This is so beautifully said Wendy! You are so right about how others’ discomfort is about them and not you.
Just what I needed today. Thank you so much… you are so right! The journey to embrace the shadow is a tough one and sometimes I think that ignorance would be bliss…but it would also be impossible to achieve… and then I think who are you kidding!! Get on with it. Love your inner child and go through the struggle with her. There is no other way, because if you avoid it, it will seek its revenge and you will be doing to her what was done to her all over again. Grateful, thank you xxx
Exactly Roisin! When we ignore and repress those parts, we continue their abuse.
You are spot on Elisabeth! Thank you for this insightful post.
Thank you Denise!
Elisabeth! YES! I have had all of those concerns when thinking about embracing my negative thoughts and feelings (especially that I will then manifest terrible things as I am focusing on them) and I think that is actually a defender setting up more roadblocks to my work. I have to say… every time I am going through phases of working (As you know, I do go through phases) things are tough… and I am emotional… and I do feel dizzy and out of sort… BUT… EVERY SINGLE TIME after I am so much better than I ever had been before the work. Now that I’ve tried this several times I know that sometimes I just need to buckle down and get to it…even though it will be so hard.. because it will be so worth it. The awareness, strength, courage and self love I have gained in this past year of working with you and my inner parts has been amazing. I didn’t know I was able to feel this way..
Thank you! I am sending my love and light to you Victoria. I know you REALLY get what I am saying here. And you are truly putting it in to action. As you know, it makes such a difference.
So true Elizabeth, I’ve been facing this right now.I need to move on and then I realize that I’ve been doing this spiritual bypass for most of my life and I can’t positive thinking it away.It’s real, it’s there, it’s painful and it needs my awareness. Your post just validated what I’m doing.Thank you.
Thank you Maria. You are doing things right! Love to you on your journey.
Excellent article Elisabeth. Must have missed it in April.
Thank you Peter!
Do you recommend writing down these resistant thoughts and bad memories? Is that the best way to process them? (Along with therapy). Thank you in advance for your help 😊
I definitely recommend that. It is such a powerful way to process them.
I am currently experiencing the just be positive lie, because this person is the only place I feel I have. It’s not working and it has once again minimized and violated my mental health. He is mean and cruel, I believe he has cluster b or c personality and is abusing me with it. He is one of the various foster parents I had as a child. And now I have decided he is not worth my mental investment he is doing alot of harm. I have been trying to maintain perspective staying away from my usual reaction of defending myself because I have no options. But as soon as I am able, I will not be back here. Thank you for validating me. Also helping me feel ok with my therapy because he has told me I am leaning on my therapist and I need to stop that because it’s not necessary, and neither are my meds. Of course he uses the qualifier, I dont mean to tell you how to live. Very obvious BPD. I just hope it doesnt push me to far
Oh be careful there for sure. There are way too many people out there that will invalidate our attempts to get to the truth (because it scares them). It takes a lot to remember who we are and what we want in this world.