Just Keep Swimming: Overcoming Resistance and Staying Stupid
I was 25, pregnant, and working full-time, but somehow I still found the energy to drive myself to night classes at Wilfrid Laurier University week after week. I stressed about the coursework, the exams, and whether I could actually pull it off, but I kept going. Class after class. Year after year. Until, eventually, I graduated.
I’ll never forget the looks I got walking into those classrooms with my big pregnant belly. People assumed I was 19, about to become a super young mom. What they didn’t know was that I was married, had been working full-time for six years, and had never had the opportunity to go to university earlier because, at 18, I needed a full time job to keep a roof over my head.
Going to university wasn’t just about getting an education. It was about proving something to myself. I wanted to see “Wilfrid Laurier University” on my resume. And despite all the obstacles, I pushed through.
But truth be told, there have been PLENTY of times in my life when I didn’t.
Self-doubt has always been my default setting. Every time I wanted to try something new or take on a challenge, there was a voice in my head whispering reasons why I shouldn’t. While I’ve had moments of pushing through (like Laurier), more often than not, I played it safe. I kept myself small.
For a long time, I thought this was just me. Like I had a special kind of insecurity holding me back. But then I read a book called Do The Work by Steven Pressfield, and it completely changed the way I saw things.
FUN FACT: We love this book so much that we gifted it to everyone in our UNBLOCK Yourself program to use as a tool in their resistance toolkit when the going gets tough.
Meet Resistance: The Enemy of Progress
Pressfield calls this feeling Resistance and it's that internal force that shows up every time we try to grow, change or need courage.
Resistance isn’t just self-doubt. It can show up as procrastination, perfectionism, overwhelm, or any excuse that keeps us in our comfort zone. And sorry to be the one to tell you, but it never fully goes away. You can overcome it today, but guess what? It’ll be waiting for you tomorrow.
Resistance wants you to stay on autopilot. It thrives on sameness and predictability. It hates change.
The only way to beat it (until it comes back again) is ACTION.
How to Fight Resistance (And Win)
Pressfield shares some game-changing tactics for pushing through Resistance:
Start before you’re ready. Perfectionism is just fear in disguise.
Accountability beats overwhelm. Having people in your corner makes all the difference.
And my personal favourite…Stay Stupid.
“Staying stupid” is all about taking action before you talk yourself out of it. I think this is why I stuck with Laurier despite everything I had going on. If I had really thought through all the logistics, the stress, and the late nights, I probably wouldn’t have done it. Instead, I just kept showing up. Kept taking the next step. Kept moving forward. I was basically like Dory in Finding Nemo—staying stupid and repeating to myself, Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
Your Resistance = Your Growth Edge
If you’re thinking about making a change, starting something new, or stepping outside your comfort zone, just know that Resistance will show up. And remember, that’s a good sign. It means you’re growing.
So, when that little voice starts whispering doubts, recognize it for what it is. Then take action anyway. Find accountability. And don’t be afraid to stay stupid.
It just might be what gets you across the finish line.
