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CAREER MANAGEMENT
Resistance: Are You Spinning Your Wheels?

By Marge Paladeni
paladeni@pacifier.com

You know the economy sucks and prospects for the future are dismal. If you’ve received a pink slip, you know how tough it is to find job opportunities. If you’re lucky enough to still be working, you may be constantly looking over your shoulder and wondering if you are going to be the next casualty of this economy. You know you need to continue moving forward, but it’s tough to keep going and remain motivated in these depressing times.

A huge impact on our effectiveness is how we think and view the world. We believe we are thinking rationally, but are we? Given the current conditions of our economy, this may be impossible. Have you been paralyzed or motivated by the changes in your life? Working with change allows us to go beyond the common experience and to look past former expectations and fixed ideas unless you’re spinning your wheels.

There are several theories as to why we fear or become immobilized by change. One interesting theory suggests resistance to change is a genetic inheritance from our prehistoric ancestors. Barbara Sher offers this insight. “If you think your inability to stick with your resolutions is a sign of weakness, I have a surprise for you: it’s more likely a sign of strength. That’s because resistance is a primitive safety mechanism. Every instinct you have pulls back from the unknown. It’s a reaction handed down in your genetic structure by your Stone Age ancestors.”

Safety had to have been of premier importance to early man. Those that were curious and ventured far from the cave, probably didn’t come back. While those who resisted their curiosity usually lived longer. Ms. Sher continues, “Chances are pretty good that our ancestors are the ones with the resistance. It’s your inheritance, and it wants to prevent you from doing new and interesting things simply because it’s afraid you’ll lose your footing and get into trouble. Resistance has one goal: for you to live in safety.”

So don’t beat yourself up for not being able to stick to your resolutions to learn a new concept, or network better, or take a class on how to better or more effectively communicate. Chances are it may be your resistance gene at work trying to protect you from the unknown.

Once you understand that resistance is normal and that it could possibly be coded into your genetics, it may be easier to sidestep or maneuver through some of the potholes you are encountering. For many of us, understanding the nature of an issue or event allows us to deal with it successfully and move on.

If you feel as though you are spinning your wheels, step back and try to analyze what it is that is holding you back and how it is doing it. Once you remove the mystic and understand the fear, you may be surprised to see how simple it is to move beyond and slay one more saber tooth tiger.

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