Where did resisting reality add to your suffering today?
Strengthening emotional maturity through understanding resistance.
If you often struggle emotionally, make this your nightly question:
🤔 Where did resisting reality add to my suffering today?
Take a moment to notice where and why you resisted, then choose how you want to respond next.
Life tends to present us with situations that don’t go the way we want. Things happen that we wish were different, whether it’s living with a chronic illness or injury, losing a job, having an accident, going through a divorce, or someone not behaving as we hoped. Sometimes we resist what’s happening with thoughts like, “This shouldn’t be happening” or “I don’t want this.” Other times, resistance lingers beneath the surface without us realizing it. It can show up in many ways, such as frustration, anxiety, stress, worry, or anger. It may also tighten our bodies, bring on headaches, or lead us to avoid problems or blame others.
Much of our emotional suffering comes from resisting reality. The more we fight against what is, the more we amplify our suffering on top of the pain or inconvenience of the situation itself. Fighting against what’s already happened doesn’t change it. It only drains our energy and clouds our ability to respond effectively.
Resisting reality is like swimming against a strong current: exhausting, futile, and keeping us stuck in place.
When we practice true acceptance and let go of resistance, negative emotions lose their grip. This opens space for clarity and strength to emerge so we can respond in ways that support us. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means facing reality as it is so you can respond with purpose. Sometimes that means changing the situation or stepping away from it if we can. When change isn’t possible, our only real option is to fully accept what cannot be changed. Even if the action we take isn’t perfect, we can learn and grow from it. But if we stay locked in resistance, we miss the chance to move forward and create something better.
Each night, ask yourself:
🤔 Where did resisting reality add to my suffering today?
Notice what comes up. Then ask: Can I change it, leave it, or accept it fully? Finally, take one small step forward. You don’t have to get it perfect—just keep moving forward with kindness toward yourself.
