🏔️How to Turn Resistance Into a Spark for Growth

Discover the mindset shift that transforms challenges into your greatest opportunities

From: Just West of Otay Lakes

Hey – It’s Luis.

Welcome to Day 14 of the 30-Day Writing Challenge!

Yesterday, I was nodding off at the keyboard as I pushed late into the night to ship: 🧩 The Copywriting Playbook I Wish I Had at the Start. With my son on minimum days at middle school and my daughter performing in The Nutcracker this weekend, my margin is tight.

Now, on to today’s writing...

Plato famously wrote, “Our need will be the real creator,” which evolved into the English proverb, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Resistance Stands Between You and Your Calling

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” –Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.

There’s a calling on your life. I suspect you know it. I suspect you’ve wrestled with the tension of knowing you’re being called to level up and leave your comfort zone.

What stands in your way is Resistance—a cunning and baffling enemy that feeds on your fears, doubts, and excuses. Resistance doesn’t want you to take the high road to a new freedom.

For years, I refused the Call.

Every year after Labor Day, I’d hear a whisper to publish my newsletter—a space to share my thoughts, lessons, and ideas. But every year, I found an excuse.

The busy retail season would come, and I’d bury myself in work. By the time I looked up, the moment had passed.

The cycle repeated itself for five years.

I was the plumber with leaky pipes at home.

The Shift That Changed Everything

“There is an ancient proverb that tells us that you become your thoughts. Your thoughts are the road map to your future. If you transform your thinking, you will transform your life.” – Erwin McManus, Mind Shift: It Doesn’t Take a Genius to Think Like One

What finally broke the cycle was realizing this: Everything good in my life came from wanting, not needing.

I became a business owner because I wanted it more than anything. I followed my heart into the unknown, trusting we’d figure it out.

I recovered from alcoholism because I wanted the promises of new freedom and happiness. I committed to the Twelve Steps because I wanted my drinking problem removed.

“The Abundance of Wanting is greater than the Scarcity of Needing.” – Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy, 10X Is Easier Than 2X

For too long, I’d been operating from fear and scarcity instead of abundance and creation.

The 4C Framework for Breakthroughs

“A dream is worthless until you wake up and act on it. You will never fulfill God’s dream for your life until you press through the decision phase of faith.” –Rick Warren, Created to Dream

Dan Sullivan’s 4C Framework gave me a clear path:

1. Commitment – Decide and move forward.

2. Courage – Step into the unknown and embrace the discomfort.

3. Capability – Learn through action, failure, and feedback.

4. Confidence – Confidence grows when you prove to yourself that you can do hard things.

Every breakthrough begins with a single step of commitment.

My Breakthrough: The 30-Day Writing Challenge

This year, I broke the cycle of false starts by joining a 30-Day Writing Challenge. Programs like Ship 30 for 30 make it easier to commit to writing daily and sharing your ideas online.

If you’ve been holding back, I highly recommend it. Writing consistently has helped me build a habit, sharpen my skills, and share what I learn with others.

Simple Steps to Move Forward

Rick Warren outlines five steps to navigate big decisions in Created to Dream:

1. Pray for guidance.

2. Get the facts.

3. Ask for advice.

4. Calculate the cost.

5. Prepare for problems.

Freedom is wanting. So, what do you want?

P.S. What’s one thing you’ve wanted to start but haven’t? Hit reply—I’d love to hear about it!