Why People Resist (And How To Turn Walls Into Doors)
Most people think resistance means they're losing the conversation.
They take it personally. They push harder. They bring out logic and evidence to prove their point.
All of this makes things worse.
Resistance isn't your enemy trying to shut you down. It's your ally showing you exactly where the real conversation needs to happen.
What Resistance Really Means
When someone says "Yeah, but..." or goes quiet or suddenly needs to leave, they're not rejecting you.
They're protecting something important.
Maybe you've touched on something they're not ready to face. Maybe they don't feel safe enough yet. Or maybe what you're saying threatens how they see themselves.
This is valuable information, not a roadblock.
Think of resistance like a locked door. Most people see the door and walk away, or they try to break it down with force.
But what if the door is actually showing you exactly where you need to go?
The Three Reasons People Resist
You've Hit Something Real When people resist, it often means you've connected to something that matters deeply to them. The bigger the resistance, the more significant what lies beneath it.
They Don't Feel Safe Enough Yet Sometimes you're moving too fast. Part of them wants to explore, but another part needs more time and trust before they can be vulnerable.