Why Internal Resistance Prevents Us From A Positive Change

Being natural and unplanned is very much worth it, because often we need to fight the good fight, but there are times when change must be forced. Every change needs internal support, especially when it is something that is seen as a positive change, like meeting our health goals, loosing weight, healthy and well balanced eating or lifestyle, or giving up a bad habit.

We all have an internal resistance to change - things that need to be done, goals that we want to achieve and so on. Despite knowing that change is inevitable and beneficial, we still find it hard to implement these changes in our professional and everyday lives.

We want to believe, that things will turn around for the better. But there is always this internal resistance, that keeps our progress from fully happening. So what is this internal resistance and why is this there within us to make our lives harder? In this article I want to find out the answers to these questions.

What Is Internal Resistance?

Internal Resistance is a part of us that is there to protect ourselves from change. It is the instinct to go back to the status quo. When we face a change we have to deal with, it is our body's reaction to say no, to go back and ignore the new information that we have been given, or simply go against what we believe. These reactions are very human and very understandable. In a world where change is constant and survival is not guaranteed, every reaction is understandable.

The problem arises, when this resistance gets out of hand. At that point we find ourselves unable to make the change and we remain at that state of being stuck. We become stagnant and unproductive. In the worst cases these people have given up on life entirely and choose to end their own lives. It is important to understand that this resistance is not personal, nor is it our fault. It is merely a part of human nature, that needs to be managed and understood.

Resistance Comes From Within

We all have the ability to resist a change. The question is whether we will exercise that ability, or whether we will allow it to control us.

When you look at it from this perspective, it makes sense that resistance would be a part of our nature and that it would be present at all times. After all, if we are not constantly resisting change, then we are allowing it to take over and control our lives. And we've all seen how that ends. The more we resist a change, the more we are limiting our own potential for success in that area. The less we resist, the more likely we are to succeed.

The trick is to find a balance. Just as we all need rest and sleep, we also need to take breaks from resisting and allow our minds to relax. This is where meditation and other relaxation techniques come into play. By learning how to reduce stress and increase inner awareness, we are able to reduce the resistance and increase our chances of success.

The Need For A Change

There are many reasons why someone may resist change; some more common than others.

Fear - This is probably the most common one. We don't understand something, so we make up our reasons why the change should not happen. "I can't give up hot coffee," we think, "It keeps me awake and on my toes." We decide that the new and unknown danger of the change is greater, than the known benefit of the current state of affairs. This is the most rational reaction, and yet it is still one, that needs to be overcome, if the person is going to make the change. Fear is a common part of human nature. It has been present since the dawn of time and it will be there long after we are gone. The trick is to find a way to reduce it to manageable levels.

Laziness or lack of motivation is also a very common reason for not changing. People may have all the right reasons, but still are not willing to follow through with any of them. They would rather live a life of comfort and ease, than to give up the perks and privilege that come with being an insider.

Another common reason is apathy. People may feel like they understand the benefits of the change and the risks that come with it, but they choose not to act when it is time to put themselves on the line. They sit on the fence and wait for someone else to make the effort to bring them over.

Finally there are many who feel like the change is what is hurting them and not the other way around. In some cases this is true. People may want to resist a change, but when that change benefits them directly, they no longer have a good argument. The reasons for resistance may be different for different people, but the results are always the same.

Challenges Of A Positive Change

There are, of course, many challenges that one has to face when attempting a positive change. Perhaps the biggest one is in the change itself. Most people would rather not change at all, than to have to give up the things they currently enjoy.

We cannot rely on logic with someone, who has a problem with logic. We cannot rely on debate, because they will never change their opinion. We cannot rely on threats, because threats do not motivate. Only emotions can do that. So how do we change someone's opinion who holds an opinion on the basis of emotion?

The answer to that question depends on how committed the person is to their opinion. If they are only lukewarm about it, you we use some strong emotions to sway them. Joy, pride, and shame are very effective. If they are truly dedicated to the opinion, however, we will have to use some more indirect methods. The best way to do that is to appeal to their fears. If we can get them to believe, that the change will be bad for them, they will be much more likely to comply.

Sometimes fear appeals work, because people are more rational, than they believe themselves to be. They believe the change will be bad for them, so they assume that it must be. What they do not realize is that the reason it is bad for them is that they are afraid. They will comply as long as they believe they are getting something in return.

There are two ways to use fear for a successful change. The first one is to use it directly against the person who has a problem with the change. "You won't get away with it." We might say that to a lukewarm supporter to get them on our side.

The other way is to use it against ourselves. Our own personal fears are what keep us from embracing the change. We might tell ourselves, that we are afraid that we will fail, that we are afraid that the whole thing will be a waste of time, or that we are afraid that we will look like a fool.

Once we have overcome our own fears, however, we are more likely to succeed. We have to recognize, that we are living a life that we do not like. We might think, that our lives are wonderful now, we can't imagine living any other way. In reality, however, we have never been happier. Everything that we have ever wanted has been within our grasps, and we have been denied that gratification because of the way that we think.

We have always enjoyed a certain lifestyle, and that lifestyle is one that we have come to think of as normal. It is not normal. A life of fulfillment and contentment is possible for us, if we change. Once we are aware of that fact, we are one step closer to being able to change.

Thank you for reading.