"La résistance intérieure à ce qui survient crée une résistance extérieure donc libérer la résistance intérieure permet également de libérer la résistance extérieure."

The heart of this quote is pretty straightforward: if you fight against your own feelings or situations internally, you'll end up creating more problems or challenges outside yourself. Sounds simple enough, right? Essentially, when you stop resisting on the inside, things on the outside tend to smooth out too.

Imagine this: you're in the middle of rush hour traffic. You're late, you're stressed, and every fiber of your being wants to scream (or maybe you already are). This resistance—this frustration—isn't changing the traffic. It's just making you more anxious and tense. But, if you take a deep breath and accept that you can't control the traffic, suddenly, your entire experience changes. You're still in the same car, on the same road, but without the inner turmoil. Your body relaxes, your mind clears, and you might even find a way to enjoy that podcast you've been wanting to listen to.

There’s a historical parallel here too. Think about Mahatma Gandhi and his approach to the British rule in India. Instead of meeting violence with violence, he chose resistance through nonviolent means. By not giving in to inner rage and aggression, he maintained his composure and clarity. This inner peace translated to an outer peaceful resistance that ultimately led to significant change.

So, how do you apply this in your own life? Start small. Next time something bothers you—maybe your colleague is irritating, or you’ve got a mountain of work—pause. Feel the irritation, but instead of pushing it away or letting it fester, acknowledge it. Say to yourself, "Yep, I’m stressed." Then, let go of the need to fight it. Sometimes just naming the emotion can deflate its power. Other times, you might need a walk or a few deep breaths. The key is to stop resisting your feelings.

Here’s another scenario: let’s say you’re in a relationship, and there’s a recurring argument about household chores. You resist the discussion because it’s stressful, and every time it comes up, you both end up upset. But what if you let go of that inner resistance? Accept that the conversation is necessary. Approach it with a calm heart. Maybe even start with, "I know this is tough for both of us, but let's try to find a solution." By not fighting the need to have the discussion, you open up space for real solutions.

Think back to that traffic jam. Imagine you’re there again, but this time you’ve released that inner resistance. You see the same cars, the same brake lights, but now you notice the sunset reflecting off the buildings. You hear a song on the radio that makes you smile. Your external world hasn’t changed, but your experience of it has.

In short, when you stop battling your inner world, your outer world becomes less of a battlefield. Next time you feel that inner resistance creeping up, try to release it. Your outer world might just reflect that peace right back at you.