Chapter 6: Resistance
CHOOSING PRESENCE PP. 56-59
To define resistance and understand its pervasive impact on our peace and spiritual well-being.
Summary
This section talks about resistance as the tendency to fight against reality, which only creates more stress, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection. Resistance can show up in different ways—through thoughts, emotions, or even physical tension—and it’s often the ego’s way of trying to stay in control and avoid change. You’ll learn how to recognize resistance in your own life and why simply acknowledging it is the first step toward letting it go.
Resistance is the negative energy we put into what is happening in our life situation instead of accepting what is. It comes in many forms, both mental and physical, and they are all ways that we deny reality.
— Choosing Presence, p. 56
A Moment for Reflection
Pause for a moment and reflect on the following three questions:
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Think about situations where you struggle to accept things as they are. Do you find yourself wishing things were different, avoiding certain emotions, or trying to control outcomes?
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Pay attention to how resistance manifests in your daily life. Do you notice negative thought loops, frustration, or tightness in your body when things don’t go as planned?
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Imagine how your life might change if you let go of the need to control or fight against what is. How might this shift bring more peace, clarity, or connection with God?
Remember to Download the Free Practicing Presence App!
Start your day with a morning meditation and get hourly reminders to return to presence with three conscious breaths. This free app is an essential tool for deepening your practice and staying connected with God’s presence.
Deepening the Practice: Journal Prompt
Resistance often shows up as an internal struggle against reality—wanting things to be different, avoiding discomfort, or trying to control outcomes. Choosing Presence teaches that resistance creates unnecessary stress and keeps us disconnected from peace and God’s presence. The first step toward letting go of resistance is recognizing when and where it shows up in our lives. By becoming aware of our own patterns of resistance, we can begin to shift from struggle to acceptance, allowing for greater peace and clarity.
Think about a situation in your life where you feel resistance—whether it’s frustration with circumstances, difficulty accepting a change, or an inner struggle against what is. How does this resistance affect your thoughts, emotions, and sense of peace? Now, imagine releasing the need to fight or control the situation. How might accepting the present moment as it is change your experience? What would trusting in God’s presence instead of resisting bring into your life?