How many times have you stood at the finish line only to focus on the exhaustion of the moment and stop for a drink of water, losing precious time? How many times have you nearly finished a journey only to quite just before you’ve finished? More directly, how many times have you given up just before breakthrough?
As for me, I can tell you I have given up before breakthrough countless times. I have been my own worst enemy with self-defeating inner monologues; Who do you think you are? You’re not smart enough, quick enough, educated enough, or don’t have the right connections. I know better. Still it has taken some time for me to replace the negative self-talk. I’ve read many books on the topic but my favorite for anyone who has a dream in their heart, an unrevealed gift, or a talent that is screaming out to be shared is Steven Pressfield’s, The War of Art.

In reading the War of Art, which now holds a place of honor in my  morning reading corner so I can refer to it often, Pressfield describes the concept of resistance as “self-sabotage” and describes resistance as “…moving only in one direction…”  That direction? In complete opposition with that internal drive that some might refer to as destiny. However lofty or simple it is; destiny is that thing that will always make it to our bucket list. Destiny is that God-given, intangible, internal drive that causes Olympic athletes train relentlessly, causes performers perform constantly, and causes writers to write ferociously.

Never give up! Keep moving forward.

I’ve said it many times, “Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Never stop.” and yet I have not taken my own advice. That is, until resistance became exposed like a helpless patient clinging to life once the oxygen had been turned off. I was providing feed for resistance. Now that I recognize that, resistance does not seem so powerful now.

What is resistance screaming for you NOT to do? What is your someday idea you’ve put off for too long. Quite possibly, this is something God has placed within your heart. Possibly, this is what you were born to do. Don’t let resistance be the thing that stops you.