Your Genius and Its Contrasting Shadow

I was reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield when I came across a line that struck the depth of me, and I knew I had to share it with you.

I did not want this to be a social media post because of the weight of it.

The line is:

‘Our Genius, like the sun, casts a shadow. This shadow is Resistance’.

It hit me because it is deeply and disturbingly true.

It is one of those truths that reveals itself in layers, depending on where you are in your journey.

Please follow me very closely. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of what I am about to share.

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So, let us start with Genius.

In the context of the line I shared, your genius is not merely your intelligence or your talent.

It is the purest expression of your inner light.

It is the part of you that holds your most honest words, your clearest voice, your soul’s message, your divine assignments. It is the reason you feel called to write, teach, build, heal, or speak up, even when it terrifies you.

But then, like the sun casting a shadow the moment it rises, that Genius immediately calls up an opposing force: Resistance.

And the more powerful your Genius, the sharper and more intimidating the shadow.

Please read that again.

What I mean by this, is that your resistance is equal in magnitude to your genius.

Your resistance is equal in magnitude to your genius.

Do not take this as a punishment. It is a natural law. Brightness always calls forth contrast.

The harder the sun shines, the shaper and stronger the shadow it casts. True, isn’t it?

This means that the more meaningful the work you are called to do, the more intense the fear you may feel about doing it.

You think this fear means you are not ready. That maybe you are not good enough. That you should wait a little longer, pray a little harder, plan a little more.

But the fear and the inner resistance is actually proof that you are on the edge of something that matters.

So, resistance is not proof that you are off-track. In my opinion, it is proof that you have touched something sacred. That you are onto something with great potential for greatness.

Worthy of note is that Resistance takes different forms.

Apart from the obvious fear and self-doubt, you can look like overthinking, procrastination, fatigue, or even ‘being busy’.

But it is also not always loud or aggressive. Sometimes, it comes in the form of ‘You’re not ready’ Or, ‘This has already been said before, what’s new in your own voice?’

Other times it dresses up as logic: Why not do a little more research? Plan it better. Wait for the right time.

But time never feels right, does it?

I personally think that Resistance is a thief with clean hands.

But what many of us do not realise EARLY is that Resistance has an intimacy with your Genius.

It knows exactly what you dream about. It knows the language of your fears. It does not waste time attacking your weak areas. It fights you where you are gifted.

That is why the one called to write struggles with self-doubt.
The one called to teach wrestles with imposter syndrome.
The one called to lead feels unworthy.
The one called to create fears being seen and failing in public.

You do not feel that kind of resistance toward things that do not carry meaning.
Nobody wakes up panicking about brushing their teeth.

(I mean, some people do, but brushing your teeth matters very little to destiny.)

But try sitting down to pour your soul into something that matters, that is when your mind suddenly remembers all the errands you have not done since 2019, and all the other 500 things you should be doing at that point.

It is familiar, right? Of course.

So, what does this mean, for you?

It means that when you feel Resistance, you do not run. You recognise it as the shadow of your sun. You thank it, not because you are afraid, but for the clue. Because it tells you exactly where your Genius is hiding.

It also means we must stop waiting for the day Resistance will disappear. Because it will not. The goal is not to remove it, but to learn to walk forward even with the shaking.

Because, in a very strange and sacred way, Resistance is part of your becoming. It is not necessarily an enemy to be eliminated.

You can make it an ally by paying attention to the places it appears most.

Why?

I love this next part…

Because Resistance is a gatekeeper that only stands in front of doors worth opening.

Read that line several times until it sticks in your subconscious.

So, whenever you feel resistance, know that there is gold there… and you must keep digging till you find it.

No matter what it takes, beat Resistance and break open the door of your brilliant expression(s).

You are not less called because you feel fear.
You are not less ready because your hands are shaking.
You are not disqualified because you keep second-guessing yourself.

You are simply in the shadow of your own light.

And I hope you will not let the shadow stop you from rising.