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(Photo courtesy of Khashayar Kouchpeydeh)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Life has a way of testing us, often right at the edge of something incredible. The best things \u2013 those peak experiences, achievements, and moments of growth \u2013 don\u2019t come easily. They sit just beyond resistance, fear, and doubt, daring us to break through. We all feel the weight of self-doubt, the urge to pull back when things get uncomfortable, and the whisper of \u201cWhat if I fail?\u201d But what if, instead of holding us back, these feelings were signposts guiding us to our greatest potential?<\/p>\n Take Steven Pressfield\u2019s words in The War of Art<\/em>: \u201cThe more scared we are of a work or calling, the surer we can be that we have to do it.\u201d Resistance, fear, and doubt often feel like stop signs, but in reality, they\u2019re more like a compass, pointing us toward what truly matters. When we\u2019re scared of something, it\u2019s often because it has real meaning to us. The more intense our fear, the more life-changing the journey could be. That fear isn\u2019t a barrier; it\u2019s an invitation to lean in.<\/p>\n Think of J.K. Rowling, who faced countless rejections before Harry Potter<\/em> became a global phenomenon. She was a struggling, single mother, burdened by the weight of doubt and financial insecurity. It would have been easy to quit, to believe the publishers who told her no, and to let her fears win. But Rowling kept pushing, kept believing, even when her circumstances looked bleak. Today, her story stands as a testament to what lies beyond resistance. Rowling\u2019s success wasn\u2019t just about her talent but her refusal to let doubt be the final word.<\/p>\n Fear is a powerful thing. It convinces us to stick to what\u2019s safe, to play small, to stay in our comfort zones. Yet, as Tony Robbins famously says, \u201cThe quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with.\u201d When we face our fears, we\u2019re allowing ourselves to expand, to grow in ways that wouldn\u2019t be possible if we stayed comfortable. The best moments in life \u2013 those big leaps forward \u2013 require us to sit with uncertainty, to confront the unknown, and to trust that we\u2019ll find our footing. Whether it\u2019s starting a business, moving to a new city, or pursuing a creative dream, real growth happens when we\u2019re willing to live with a bit of fear.<\/p>\n Doubt is no less of a roadblock. Many of us struggle with a voice that says, \u201cAre you really capable? Do you really deserve this?\u201d These questions can paralyze us if we let them. But think about the world\u2019s greatest athletes, artists, and leaders \u2013 every one of them has faced moments of doubt. Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, famously said, \u201cI\u2019ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I\u2019ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I\u2019ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I\u2019ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.\u201d Jordan didn\u2019t let doubt stop him; he used it as motivation. Doubt, when we confront it, can fuel us to work harder, to improve, and to reach new heights.<\/p>\n I know about this subject. At the age of fifty, after a fairly successful record of accomplishment in business, I was humbled for nearly a decade partially by circumstances, but also my own resistance. I was forced to be fully accountable for myself and look at alternative ways of making a living. Some were scary, all appeared difficult. If I hadn’t taken a leap into uncertainty, you wouldn’t be reading this now and my life almost certainly would have crumbled. Facing my fears and doubts, I discovered ways of helping others, and in doing so, rescued myself. What appeared a tragedy ended up an immense period of growth. Once I jumped over that line of doubt, fear, and resistance, I discovered them to be just illusions. You can too!<\/p>\n When we look at resistance, fear, and doubt as tools rather than obstacles, we unlock a powerful shift. Instead of being afraid of what might go wrong, we start seeing what could go right. We stop being scared of failure and start embracing the journey. The best things in life \u2013 the fulfillment, the pride of achievement, the thrill of reaching a goal \u2013 are born out of a willingness to keep going even when it feels uncomfortable.<\/p>\n So next time you feel the pull of resistance or the sting of doubt, remember that they\u2019re part of the path, not barriers to your dreams. Every major achievement, every life-changing experience is on the other side of these feelings. Breakthroughs come to those who push past fear, who embrace discomfort, and who trust that something amazing awaits.<\/p>\n The best things in life aren\u2019t handed to us; they\u2019re earned on the other side of resistance. They\u2019re found in the willingness to keep going when things feel hard, to take a leap when you\u2019re unsure, and to trust that what\u2019s waiting is worth every ounce of effort. Let fear, resistance, and doubt fuel your journey forward, guiding you to places you never thought you could reach.<\/p>\n \u00a0Bob Fagan has just published\u00a0“The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.”\u00a0It is available on Amazon. Through 2025, all proceeds will be donated to charity.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"