What you resist persists

by | May 16, 2016 | Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Stress Management, Time Management

What you resist persists…

Right now, I don’t want you to think of a pink elephant. Not even for a split second. Don’t allow the picture of a pink elephant to appear in your mind. Completely banish all thoughts of pink elephants. So… what are you thinking about? Yes, I thought so. Me too.

Thanks to Werner Erhard, the fact that what we resist persists has become a well know saying and often quoted piece of wisdom.  I share Werner’s sentiments that life is like a rollercoaster and we can choose to enjoy the ride.  Or we can resist it and be dragged along kicking and screaming – getting off is not really an option.  You likely share his sentiments too, don’t you?  The question is – “what do we do with this piece of wisdom?”  Let’s take Key Steps this week to…

Release Resistance

  1. What do you resist? The key here is to catch yourself in the act of resistance (awareness through journaling really helps me with this). Lately, I have been noticing how much I resist idleness and slowing down.  The irony of course is that what I resist persists; when I resist slowing down or being idle, I get tired (confused or overwhelmed or all three 🙂 and I have to slow down.  As you scan back over the past few days, weeks, months or years, what do you notice that you don’t like?  What are the things, people, places and behaviours you resist?
  2. Just let it be. I’ve also noticed that when I attempt to “fix it”, I make it worse.  When I simply notice what I resist, I (the observer) am free. When I am in “fixer mode”, the more I struggle to be free, the deeper the hole becomes.  There’s a fine distinction between simply noticing what I resist, and a “fixing” attempt.  The difference lies in how I feel.  When I’m fixing I feel stressed, frustrated and overwhelmed.  When I am just a silent observer, I feel calm, relieved and liberated.  So, breathe a sigh of relief with me and just notice, be free and

“be the difference that makes the difference

To understand your unique stress response, learn coping mechanisms that really work and manage your time more effectively to bring balance back, contact Tiffany for more information and book one of our public workshops.

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Namaste,

 

NOTE: The information in my blog may be freely shared and re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line: This was written by Dr Sharon King Gabrielides, and originally appeared in her free bi-weekly  ‘Key Steps Food for Thought Blog’ available on the Key Steps website.

Dr Sharon King Gabrielides, EQ Expert, Founder and CEO

Sharon is a dynamic facilitator, speaker and executive coach with over 25 years’ experience in leadership development and organisational transformation. Her PhD thesis contributed a framework for holistic and sustainable leadership development that was published by Rutgers University in the USA. She is faculty of numerous business schools and highly sought-after by leading corporates because she works hand-in-hand with them to create sustainable results and long-term success. In 2020, Sharon was inducted into the Educators Hall of Fame, which is a lifetime achievement award, recognising excellence and her contribution to the field.

Sharon is one of only three women in South Africa to hold the title of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) – the Oscar of the speaking industry. She is also a COMENSA Master Practitioner (CMP), a qualified Modern Classroom Certified Trainer (MCCT™) and an accredited Global Virtual Speaker. Sharon is also a registered Education, Training and Development Practitioner (ETDP), holds an Honours degree in Psychology and practices as an NLP master practitioner.

Most important to Sharon is that she has become known for her genuinely caring manner, practical and transformational approach, and for providing valuable tools and that allow people to take Key Steps to really… ‘be the difference that makes the difference.’