RESIST LESS, LIVE MORE

This has always been one of my favorite quotes—and one I’ve shared with students and patients for years. It’s also something I continue to struggle with (literally, as we speak—the inspiration for this post).

I’ve resisted emotions I didn’t want to feel. 

I’ve resisted change that pulled me out of my comfort zone.

I’ve resisted uncertainty and vulnerability.

Here’s what I’ve learned: resistance doesn’t make things disappear—it actually strengthens them. The more we push against fear, sadness, or discomfort, the more tightly they grip us. The shift happens when we stop resisting and start accepting. Acceptance isn’t weakness—it’s what allows transformation.

These are the practices that have been helpful for me: 

1️⃣ Awareness is the first step. Instead of pushing the feeling away, say to yourself: “This is fear.” “This is grief.”

2️⃣ Allow it to be there. Emotions are temporary and pass when we let them move through us.

3️⃣ Breathe into the discomfort. Slow, steady breaths calm the body and let us know it’s safe to feel. 

4️⃣ Get curious. Ask: “What is this emotion trying to tell me? What happens if I let it in?” 

5️⃣ Practice acceptance in small doses. Start with traffic or a change in plans—this prepares us for greater challenges.

Because what we accept, we can transform.

And as Carl Jung so wisely said: “What we resist, persists.”