The Feedback Loop: How Resistance Can Help You Stay on Track

In the pursuit of productivity, encountering resistance is par for the course. But what if I told you that this resistance, in all its frustrating forms, is actually a valuable tool for staying on track?

First, let's look at the two main types of resistance. Type 1 is the familiar face of procrastination, the one that shows up before you even start. It's that nagging feeling of dread, coupled with a sudden urge to check social media or rearrange your sock drawer. The remedy? Grit your teeth and dive in, no matter how unappetizing the task may seem.

Type 2 resistance is subtler, emerging mid-project like a slow puncture in your motivation. This is the kind that suggests something's amiss—maybe the project doesn't align with your bigger-picture goals, or your approach isn't yielding the results you'd hoped for. Here's where resistance can be a valuable form of feedback, a signal that it's time to reassess and recalibrate.

Regardless of the type of resistance you're facing, the key is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. As poet Marianne Moore noted, "I've made it a principle not to be over-influenced by minor disappointments." In other words, don't let the inevitable setbacks throw you off course.

Staying on track isn't just bulldozing through resistance; it's also about cultivating focus. When you're able to harness your attention and channel it productively, you can weave even the most fragmented hours into a coherent accomplishment. Granted, this is easier said than done in our distraction-saturated world.

One effective strategy is to approach focus as an ongoing practice rather than a one-and-done achievement. Instead of clinging rigidly to a fixed vision, get in the habit of regularly reassessing your goals and tactics, making tweaks and course corrections as needed.

This iterative approach is especially crucial for the things that matter most to you. For these high-stakes endeavors, a hazy, half-formed vision simply won't cut it. You need to keep revisiting and refining your plan of attack, chipping away at it day by day like a sculptor gradually revealing the statue within the stone. It's like nurturing a garden: start with a general idea of what you want to grow, then roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty, pruning and tending as you go.

Of course, this kind of sustained effort requires a certain tenacity, a willingness to fall flat on your face and get back up again. As Spanx founder Sara Blakely learned from her father's wisdom, failure is just what happens when you're brave enough to try:

He knew that many people become paralyzed by the fear of failure. They're constantly afraid of what others will think if they don't do a great job and, as a result, take no risks. My father wanted us to try everything and feel free to push the envelope. His attitude taught me to define failure as not trying something I want to do instead of not achieving the right outcome.

If you can reframe failure as a necessary part of the process rather than a verdict on your abilities, you'll be less likely to let fear of flopping keep you stuck on the starting block.

So, dear reader, here's your mission, should you choose to accept it: Take a few moments to really look at how you're spending your time and energy. What obligations or commitments are draining your resources without giving anything back? What dreams or aspirations have you been putting off because you're afraid you might not nail it on the first try?

Whatever resistance you're up against, lean into it. Embrace the discomfort, and let it guide you toward a deeper understanding of what you really want and what you need to do to get there. And through it all, just keep moving forward, one imperfect but intentional step at a time. After all, it's the journey that makes the destination worthwhile.