This past weekend I had to give my very first lecture as an Acupuncturist and Coach. At the beginning of the month I had planned out a schedule that would allow me to have time every week to prepare for this lecture. I knew that since this was essentially my first time speaking publicly that I would feel more comfortable if I had ample time to prepare. But every time it came down to me actually sitting down and working on this talk I would find every excuse in the book not to do it.

I need to finish these emails. Run these errands. Make these phone calls. Organize these files. And it’s been a really long time since I cleaned underneath the couch, I should really do that. 

Yes I was full of excuses and would search for anything and everything that could fill up my time so that I didn’t have to work on this lecture. Now this isn’t like me, not in the least. I hardly ever procrastinate. I was the girl that liked to finish the term paper early, prepare for the exam weeks in advance, tackle my biggest projects at the beginning of the day. So why was I resisting this task so much?

Two days before the lecture I still was not prepared. Are you kidding me?! What is wrong with me? I mean this is kind of a big deal Lauren! My lack of motivation and willpower was starting to scare me now. I had never felt so much resistance towards something before. I began to wonder if I was just going to end up winging it. Thankfully a dear friend intervened in the nick of time.

As I was explaining my extreme state of procrastination to my friend he reminded me of Steven Pressfield’s work The War of Art and Do the Work. In both books Pressfield explains that we often resist the work that is most important to our growth and purpose. It’s the work that pushes us out of comfort zone, that demands the we become more then we already are.

” The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.” ~Steven Pressfield

This was a huge Ah-ha moment for me. And it made perfect sense. In my career as an Acupuncturist and a Coach I actually want to give more lectures. In fact at some point I want to hold seminars and do a Ted talk. Public speaking is going to be playing a major role in my future. No wonder I was resisting this work!

Once I had this realization I was able to buckle down and prepare for my lecture. I put my all into it, and the lecture went great (phew). This was a big step up for me both personally and professionally. Reflecting on Pressfield’s theory I now understand I why was resisting so much.

You’ve probably figured out the question I am going to ask you at this point. In fact it’s the title of this blog. So, what are you resisting? What task/project do you keep putting off? And how much longer do you want to put off living your purpose? How much longer do you want to deny your souls evolution?

Feeling motivated yet?

This week do that thing that you keep putting off. The one that scares you, because it will require you to grow and evolve. The one that will require you to take a step up and transform. Break through the resistance. You’ve got this.