The Power of Intentional Resistance: Meagan’s Journey of Growth
- Sara Mangan Ramelb
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
Some people stumble into self-improvement. For Meagan, it was a lifelong pursuit—one that began in childhood and took on new urgency in the wake of COVID-19.
When the pandemic reshaped the world, it reshaped her life, too. Her role was eliminated, forcing her to step back and re-evaluate. But rather than viewing it as a setback, she saw it as an inflection point—a chance to double down on personal growth.
She read. She journaled. She meditated. She built intentional routines around her health. And as she deepened her own self-work, something powerful happened: She began to build outward.
She started her own business.
She trademarked her own methodology.
She launched a podcast.
She wrote a book.
Each of these steps required courage—and not just the courage to start, but the courage to persist. It’s easy to talk about transformation in hindsight, but the reality is change is rarely linear.
Why Change Is Rarely Linear
We like to imagine change as a clean, upward trajectory—a steady climb from struggle to success. But in reality? It’s a looping, winding, backtracking process.
Megan’s story is a perfect example. She started with small, personal habits—reading, journaling, meditating. Those incremental changes built momentum, leading to bigger, bolder steps: starting a business, launching a podcast, writing a book. But just when it seemed like everything was aligning, life threw a curveball.
Remember that concept we discussed with Alison , “Good on Paper”? The big job falling into her – one that looked so good on paper – was a move that felt right at the time, and one that proved to move her energy away from where it was well aligned to her goals and interests. Taking the big job was a pivot, not a failure. And leaving it wasn’t a step backward, but a necessary course correction. That’s the truth about transformation—it’s messy, non-linear, and often requires recalibration.
If Megan had seen every setback as a failure, she might have stopped moving forward altogether. Instead, she treated them as data points, adjusting and evolving as she went.
The Role of Persistence in Growth
Persistence isn’t just about pushing through obstacles—it’s about trusting yourself enough to keep going, even when the path is unclear.
Like Meagan, for you this might mean:
Embracing discomfort—choosing growth over security, even when it was terrifying.
Listening to energy—recognizing when something was feeding versus draining enrgy
Redefining success—understanding that real achievement isn’t about a job title or income level; it’s about alignment with your values and well-being.
Persistence doesn’t mean forcing yourself to stay in a situation that’s wrong for you. It means having the courage to keep evolving, even when it means letting go of what no longer fits.
Success, Setbacks, and the Energy Equation
Megan’s journey wasn’t a fairy tale. Even after embracing entrepreneurship, she still had doubts. So when a high-paying, fancy-title job presented itself, she took it.
On paper, it was a dream job. But the reality? The energy equation wasn’t balanced.
The role took a toll—not just on her personally, but on her marriage, which ultimately ended. It was a painful reminder that growth isn’t just about what we say yes to—it’s about recognizing when a yes is costing too much.
Intentional Resistance: Growth That Pushes Back
One of the most compelling ideas Meagan shared was the concept of intentional resistance—not resistance as in avoidance, but as in challenge.
It’s easy to focus on external challenges—career shifts, relationships, major life changes. But true growth also requires internal resistance:
Challenging yourself through self-care, not just self-discipline
Pushing back on limiting beliefs
Expanding what you think you’re capable of
Learning to tune into energy over obligation
For Meagan, personal growth isn’t a destination; it’s an ongoing evolution. And perhaps that’s the greatest lesson—success isn’t just about achieving more. It’s about aligning our lives with who we are becoming.
Your Turn: The Resistance Check-In
Meagan’s story raises an important question: Where are you growing, and where are you resisting?
Try this quick exercise:
Identify an area where you feel stuck or strained. Is it your job? A relationship? Your creative pursuits?
Assess the energy equation. Is this area fueling you or draining you?
Introduce “intentional resistance”. Where can you challenge yourself in a way that promotes growth, not just grit?
Sometimes, the hardest challenge isn’t pushing forward—it’s recognizing where we need to let go. But, if you want to see something change, you simply must do something differently. Take a small action, try it on for size and see what happens. Assess, and pivot as necessary. Staying stuck in inaction – analysis paralysis – is a sure fire way to ensure that nothing changes.
Let’s talk about it. Drop a comment or explore this further in our group coaching experience.
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