When Faced With a Challenge, Can You Be Curious?

Sharon, the friendly mechanic, poked his head through the door. "Come in" I invited him. "My back has been hurting for a few days, but I'm not accepting it", he said. I nodded and he continued, "Maybe if I were willing to accept it, if I were open to this pain and not constantly resisting, it would pass in a day or two. But I just can't accept it."

Resistance is the refusal to face the pain. When I have a specific idea of how things should be and they don't happen as I wished, or if someone says something that stirs emotions that I don't want to feel, resistance arises within me. Resistance is an internal struggle, where I am unwilling to accept reality. Resistance distances me from the possibility of noticing the good in my situation. It distances me from living the day fully.

When I'm in the mode of resistance, I miss the subtle or not-so-subtle hints of divine providence. Sometimes I may not even know what's good for me and I cling to an imagined good that actually distances me from myself. When I am fixated on a certain idea, it's possible that I'm missing something significant.

When an individual is in resistance to reality, he will experience tough emotions that paint the situation in dark colors. Some lock up and shut down and some attack, but regardless, distance is created between what is really happening and my internal experience. When resistance arises within me, I have the choice to continue getting swept up into a script I already know, or to recognize that something may be happening that I am missing. The situation may not change at that moment, but if I can relax, new possibilities may present themselves.

Often we resist because we are not open to accepting that there is a Creator who wisely manages the world far beyond our own capabilities. When we hit a wall, it's time to let go and understand that maybe it's necessary to change course. With faith and trust we can recognize that our lives can be so much better if we take advantage of each moment that presents itself.

From the new book by Ran Weber, "Live the Day." To purchase, visit Hidabroot Shops or call: 073-222-125