Expect Resistance

I lean over my bike's handlebars and shift my weight to the front pedal. The chain strains under the force as I push down. Gravel crunches beneath my tires. Winter winds whip me in the face, bringing tears to my eyes. My quads burn as they drown in lactic acid. My lungs cry.

This is resistance.

It must be overcome.

As I look back on the last ten years of my life, I see the decisions I have made, the words I have spoken, and the actions I have taken. I see my thoughts and mindsets – ever shifting and evolving. I see times of fear and moments of courage. I see faith and doubt, shame and confidence, ebb and flow like ocean tides.

As I look back on the last ten years of my life, one thing in particular stands out: Resistance.

My actions faced resistance.

My thoughts faced resistance.

… Both internally and externally.

I also notice that this resistance did not randomly appear on my doorstep. As much as it would like me to believe it is indifferent to my life’s path, resistance’s apathetic façade is lifted by its predictable habit of showing up and growing stronger when my intentions followed a certain trajectory.

It seems resistance and intention are intimately intertwined.

Resistance does not exist when there is no intention.

Intention cannot move without resistance arising.

The one creates the other. Always.

If I float in a river, there is no resistance. I drift with the ripples in the water. However, as soon as I want to swim somewhere, I experience resistance – water combating my will.

I have found that, for some curious reason, every commendable thought, action, and decision lies upstream of where I find myself. And so, I find that resistance is strongest when my intentions are most noble and virtuous.

I find life to be very similar to biking and swimming in this sense.

Every deed is met with some sort of resistance.

Every noble deed worth doing is met with the resistance of a flooding river.

Resistance must be expected.

And it must be overcome.

'Target Acquired' - show me something cooler than axe throwing. I'll wait.