Resistance Isn’t the Problem—It’s the Portal
- Pru
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
We’ve been taught to overcome resistance. Push through it. Manage it. Neutralize it.
But what if resistance isn’t the barrier we think it is?
What if it’s the portal to the very transformation we’re seeking?
Rethinking Resistance
Resistance at work—whether it shows up as withdrawal, tension, or noncompliance—often reveals where people are protecting their truth.
“God’s action is always there inside the resistance.”
— Marina Berzins McCoy
When truth isn’t honored, it doesn’t vanish—it finds other ways to speak, often as sabotage or disengagement.
In metaphysical work, resistance is never the enemy—it’s information. It points to where we’re not fully aligned, not quite ready, or not listening deeply enough.
The Research Backs It Up
Immunity to Change (Kegan & Lahey) shows people often resist what they say they want, due to hidden fears.
Psychological Safety (Edmondson) reveals resistance is often self-protection in unsafe environments.
The Transtheoretical Model of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente) reminds us: readiness is a process, not an event.
Leadership author Constance L. Habash describes resistance as “the gateway… into something greater, if I allow myself to remain there and be for a while.”
What This Means for Leaders
The most transformative leaders don’t force change—they face what’s showing up with humility, presence, and grace.
Ask yourself:
What fear is beneath this resistance?
What truth is trying to speak that I might be avoiding?
How can I make space for that truth without making it wrong?
Three Practices to Release Resistance as a Leader
1. Create Space Before Strategy
Ask how the last change affected your team emotionally—not just operationally.
2. Host a “Truth Circle”
Make it safe for fears, frustrations, and unknowns to be voiced without judgment.
3. Shift Your Language
Replace “Why are you resisting?” with “What would help this feel safe, clear, or worthwhile?”
Resistance isn’t a dead end. It’s a mirror.
It reflects where something deeper is asking for care—not control.
When we meet resistance with compassion instead of command, we witness people transform—and transformation ripples outward.
Because the moment you stop making resistance wrong… is the moment you discover the door it’s been guarding all along. Allow life to surprise you!!
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