Why do we so often find ourselves resisting change?
The third chakra, which sits at the solar plexus, is the lower mental body. It is the seat of our individuation, whence logic and intelligence come, and the internalization of the polarity that exists out in the Universe. It is, for most westerners, our main operating system, so it’s pretty strong.
That polarity, the push and the pull that makes up energy, manifests in the third chakra as the negative ego and the Free Will. The negative ego is what kept the human race going when sabre tooth cats roamed the earth – it was that part that told you “don’t leave the cave or you’ll die.” We no longer have imminent danger like that, so it no longer has a full-time job, but it still wants to keep us safe. It’s also really smart and really bored, a dangerous combination. So it tells us not to do new or growth-oriented things, and it tells us stories to stay in control. The negative ego is invested in your stagnation, on a life-and-death sort of level. Resistance arises when there is growth to be had, progress to be made.
Because the Negative Ego is strong, it can actually affect our perception of reality. Sometimes, if it feels threatened enough, it even manifests our internal out into the world. This is when we get weird car issues, or our pipes burst, or our kid gets arrested. Anything to deter us from taking the growth-oriented path. Either way, the only way out is through.
A lot of us try very hard to listen to guidance, to listen to the signals from the Universe. So how do we tell the difference between our negative ego making a mess and the Universe trying to discourage us from a choice? When you are resisting change, internally or externally, the best thing to do is to go forward anyway. The resistance will fall away, and you will make progress, feeling better for it. Remember that the resistance only exists to give you something to choose against.
So, where is ego generating resistance in your life, and what are you doing about it? What situations are trying to take you off your growth path?
This post is part of a series called Monday Message, based on that day’s reflection from 365 Days to Enlightenment (authorized versions are currently out of print, working on a new edition). Check back next Monday for another one! You can also sign up for the Daily Message on my mailing list if you’d like to receive a new reflection every day. I also often post them to Instagram, if that’s a medium you enjoy.