Why Resistance Feels So Heavy

Have you ever noticed that resistance doesn’t just live in your thoughts? It shows up in your body.

• The heaviness in your chest.
  

• The knot in your stomach.
  

• The way your muscles tense up without you even realizing.
  

Most of us treat these signals as problems. We assume they mean something is wrong — that we’re broken, failing, or not ready. But science (and experience) says otherwise.

Stress and the Body: What Research Shows

When we encounter resistance, the body responds as if under stress. Research on the stress response shows clear, measurable effects:

• Muscle tension increases. A 2012 study in the Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback found that perceived stress directly increases electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity — especially in the neck and shoulders.
  

• Circulation changes. Biofeedback research has long shown that skin temperature can drop or rise within seconds in response to emotional resistance, signaling blood flow being redirected in the body.
  

• Cortisol spikes. Chronic resistance-like states (avoidance, self-criticism, fear of failure) are linked to elevated cortisol, according to research in Psychoneuroendocrinology.
  

• Brainwave patterns shift. EEG studies show that when people feel stuck or triggered, their brain moves into high-beta frequencies associated with hypervigilance and overthinking, blocking creativity and problem-solving.
  

These reactions aren’t random. They’re signals — your body and energy field letting you know that something is misaligned and needs attention.

Energy Intelligence™: Reframing Resistance

This is where Janell’s work comes in.

In her published paper, Energy Intelligence™: A Framework for Understanding Emotional Triggers and Healing Resistance, she explains that resistance isn’t a flaw. It’s a signal for healing and alignment.

Instead of pushing harder, ignoring the body, or drowning in self-doubt, Energy Intelligence™ teaches you how to:

1. Recognize resistance as a form of static in your energy field.
   

2. Read the signal rather than judging it.
   

3. Allow alignment to emerge through practices that reconnect body, energy, and awareness.
   

The result? Resistance stops being the enemy. It becomes a guide.

Why This Matters

Think about it: if resistance always shows up right before breakthrough, then most people stop just shy of their next level.

• The entrepreneur who feels blocked before launching.
  

• The professional who freezes before asking for the raise.
  

• The parent who feels guilt before setting a boundary.
  

Each of these examples is an invitation. Energy Intelligence™ shows us that resistance is not a wall — it’s a doorway.

Practical Step You Can Try

This weekend, notice where resistance shows up for you.

1. Pause when you feel stuck.
   

2. Place your hand on the part of your body that feels tense.
   

3. Say quietly: “This is not failure. This is guidance.”
   

4. Take three breaths and ask: What is this showing me?
   

You may be surprised by the clarity that comes when you shift from resisting resistance to listening to it.

The Path Forward

The science is clear: stress and resistance create measurable changes in the body. But the deeper truth is this — those changes aren’t signs of weakness. They’re invitations to align.

Energy Intelligence™ bridges the science of stress with the wisdom of energy, giving you a framework to move through resistance and into clarity, healing, and growth.

👉 Read Janell’s published article here: https://zenodo.org/records/17108400

Because the moment you stop fighting resistance, you start unlocking what it’s been trying to show you all along.