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Thank you for spending your time with me!

My original intention for this creator burnout series was only 4 parts. Though, I have decided to add an additional topic to this series before wrapping it up.

One element of burnout I have not touched upon yet is that of resistance.

Resistance is the refusal to accept or comply; using action or argument to attempt preventing something. Alternately, an attempt to avoid pain and discomfort.

Some say resistance is what ages us, because not only does it compound as we get older (and more resistant), but resisting aging is a form of "pushing against", or fighting the inevitable.

However, in the creator space, I think resistance is more sinister and takes it a step further by mimicking burnout. Resistance, being an internal force, can surface when we attempt to accomplish the following after burnout:

☁️ Meaningful work (create)

☁️ Rebuild ourselves (heal)

☁️ Return to creativity (explore)

When we push through burnout, we create resistance to being open to the creative flow.

"War of Art" author, Steven Pressfield, dedicated an entire book to discussing resistance in creativity. According to him, resistance is a feeling. Much like burnout, joy, and beauty - all of which are part of the creative process. Creating and creativity involves feelings (as well as emotions and perceptions). It invokes feelings, conveys them, and relates them.

As a creator, it is crucial to embrace our inner feelings and inner connection for the fulfillment of our creative endeavors. It is said resistance is the "silent but persistent force" that often emerges when creators try to rebuild their energy and re-engage after a burnout experience.

Resistance as a hurdle

Resistance often lurks as an elephant in the room during our burnout recovery time. Even after energy has been restored, resistance can still prevent a creator from immersing themselves 100% into their work due to feelings of apprehension and self-doubt.

Why it shows up strong in burnout recovery

Resistance is actually a form of self-protection. It can play hard and potent during times of transition (uncertainty) because, ultimately, we are less likely to take risks when we we do not know what the outcome will be. During times when we are facing the unknown, resistance steps in to help maintain equilibrium (or the status quo), balance, and sense of stability.

Framing it as a natural part of the creative process

Pressfield writes that resistance is a constant, natural, lifelong force for all creators, and an indicator of actually being on the right path creatively.

Normalizing resistance for creators

Resistance is present in every human's experience, although it seems creators (even the super successful ones) deal with it daily. Perfectionism and procrastination are two very popular forms of resistance and can be experienced by anyone attempting to accomplish a task, goal, project, assignment, etc.

I am no stranger to perfectionism and procrastination. In fact, in studying for my 1st Bachelor's degree, I wrote a term paper all about these two buddies and their relationship to one another. I was unaware at the time they were associated with resistance and fear. However, given my suffering so heavily from self-doubt and lack of confidence in my creative abilities, I decided a deep dive would hopefully give me answers. (I was a psychology major.)

Resistance as a guide

So far, I have framed resistance as a negative consequence of creating, but we can reframe it in a positive light. Resistance is a message, sign, and form of feedback we experience as creators. It can feel like an annoyance, setback, or sabotage. However, this feedback can be interpreted as a form of guidance and actually a positive indication the creative work is meaningful. In fact, it is suggested the stronger the resistance the more valuable the work is on the other side of accomplishment.

Cost of giving in to resistance

Giving in to resistance can undermine your progress in burnout recovery and the creative process. Resistance is normal, but is not necessarily required as a constant companion in your creative endeavors (despite Pressman's opinion). Ideally it is kept in "check". Unresolved resistance can perpetuate self-doubt and negative cycles of burnout, but it is manageable.

Impact on long-term creativity and self-trust

For every victory in resolving and moving through resistance, you build emotional resilience, self-trust, and creative endurance. You show yourself you can turn a resistance hurdle into a detour. You are still moving forward creatively.

Creative abandonment

Allowing resistance to eclipse our creative efforts leads to missed opportunities for meaningful work. Overcoming resistance honors your "why" for creating, highlights your joy and passion, and emphasizes your creative calling.

Practical steps to overcome resistance

Successfully "overcoming" resistance is an internal battle requiring self-compassion and self-connection. When creators identify and recognize the presence of resistance, they can begin to address it. You, and only you, are the reason you feel held back and resistant. It is possible to move (not push) through resistance with proactive action steps.

Set small, actionable tasks and goals

Depending on how stubborn your resistance feels, the degree of action you begin with will be similar. For instance, if you are feeling abjectly paralyzed, start with an action to "break the ice" of stagnation. Focus on micro, tiny, small manageable steps. Do something.

5-minute "brain dump"

Set a timer for 5 minutes and journal any prominent thoughts about the feelings resistance is causing you. Just getting it out of your mind, on to paper can help initiate a release and some relief from the grip.

"Low-stake" tasks

Pick a task that is low stake (or low impact). Similar to the brain dump, set a timer to brainstorm. Record any thoughts or ideas that come to mind, no matter how trivial, inconsequential, irrelevant, etc. they might seem. Get it all out and deposited into your idea bank.

Organizing is a helpful low stake task. Whether it is organizing your brain dumps or brain storms, or simply clearing some clutter off of your work space. Organizing is only for your benefit and only you see it. This is not a creation for the world to embody.

Embrace imperfection

Resistance tends to "feed" on our fears - fear of imperfection, fear of not being enough, and fear we will just fail miserably. I mentioned earlier two of the well-known resistance culprits - perfectionism and procrastination. There is a third member creating a resistance trifecta: fear of failure.

Fearing failure is a popular reason why most creators (new or seasoned) either never start creating, stall in creating, or give up. It seems resistance feeds on fear, but I believe resistance IS fear. And, as mentioned earlier, a form of self-protection (to prevent us from failing). However skewed this perception, you can work around it.

Practice the approach of working with an experimental mindset - flaws are welcome. The word "flaws" is tricky because it implies some sort of imperfection or wrongness (in other words, a negative connotation). However, in this context, approach flaws as a normal part of the creative process. The more flaws, the better. See how many flaws you can identify. They just might be the next big idea you have been aiming for.

Prevention - Identify patterns of resistance

Are you aware of how resistance manifests in your life?

Or does it sneak up on you and suddenly you realize it's been there awhile?

Practicing self-awareness and recognizing when and how resistance makes an appearance in your creative process is an important step in helping preventing it. Are you more likely to feel resistant to a new concept? A deadline? New medium? Change in habit or routine? Does it make you feel avoidant (procrastination)? Self-doubt?

Learning to recognize resistance is helping you recognize an element of fear you might experience when creating. What are you afraid of? Asking yourself this and noting your internal response can help with creatively re-engaging.

Re-cap

Resistance, an attempt to avoid pain and discomfort, can surface when we want to accomplish meaningful, creative work. It is a form of self-protection (to keep us "safe" from failure) and is a normal element in the creative process. Small, yet impactful, actions can be taken to identify, address, and overcome resistance and re-ignite creative momentum after burnout.

What do you think? Let me know!

What is one action you can do to jump-start your creative momentum?

Recognize your success in moving through resistance?

Celebrate a new creative endeavor following your burnout recovery?

Give yourself grace for being human! As creators, we cannot expect ourselves to always be creatively "on".

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P.S. The final edition (Part 5) of this creative burnout series will wrap things up with rebuilding your energy after burnout and reclaim your creative edge.

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Where to find help

Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

​https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health​

(No sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement)

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“Procrastination is the most common manifestation of Resistance because it’s the easiest to rationalize.

We don’t tell ourselves, “I’m never going to write my symphony.”

Instead we say, “I am going to write my symphony; I’m just going to start tomorrow.”

Steven Pressfield

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