"Lo que resistes, persiste"

The core idea here is simple: the more you try to fight or avoid something, the more it sticks around. It's like that song that gets stuck in your head – the harder you try not to think about it, the more it loops on repeat.

This phrase became well-known thanks to Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He was all about understanding the deep, hidden parts of our minds. Jung believed that ignoring or suppressing our thoughts and feelings doesn’t make them go away; it often makes them stronger.

Take, for example, stress at work. Imagine you've got a massive project due, and every time you think about it, you feel overwhelmed. Instead of facing it, you push the thought away and distract yourself with Netflix or scrolling through social media. But that stress doesn’t vanish. Instead, it bubbles below the surface, messing with your sleep, making you irritable, and generally making life harder. This is the essence of Jung’s idea – resisting the stress only makes it persist.

So, what do we do with this bit of wisdom? Start by acknowledging whatever it is you're resisting. Recognize it, name it, and accept that it's there. If it’s stress, admit to yourself that you’re stressed. If it’s a difficult emotion like anger or sadness, let yourself feel it. The trick is to engage with these feelings without getting overwhelmed.

Think about a time when you had a disagreement with a friend. If you avoid the conflict, pretending everything is fine, the tension builds. Your friend might even sense that something’s off. But if you address the issue directly – even though it’s uncomfortable – you clear the air. You talk it out, maybe even have a good cry or a heated debate, but afterwards, you feel lighter. The issue doesn’t have the same power over you anymore.

Imagine you're at a coffee shop with an old friend. You’ve been feeling anxious about a new job. Your friend asks how things are going, and instead of brushing it off with a “It’s fine,” you take a deep breath and spill the beans. "Honestly, I'm really anxious. It's a lot to take in, and I'm worried I might mess it up." Your friend listens, maybe shares a similar experience, and suddenly, your anxiety doesn't feel as heavy. By acknowledging and expressing it, you're no longer resisting it, and it starts to lose its grip.

In everyday life, this concept can transform the way we handle challenges. Whether it's stress, fear, or even procrastination, facing what we’re avoiding is the first step to getting past it. Next time you feel that knot in your stomach or that nagging thought at the back of your mind, don’t push it away. Invite it in, understand it, and deal with it head-on.

Keep this in mind next time you’re stuck in a loop of resistance. Think about what you’re avoiding and why. It’ll be uncomfortable at first – no doubt about it. But by confronting these feelings or situations, you often find they have less power over you. It’s about breaking the cycle and moving forward with a bit more clarity and peace.