When we use our values to shape our retirement goals and experiences several things happen. Doors open to opportunities that have the potential to be fulfilling and rewarding. As we review our existing values and the ones we want to acquire we are reminded what is important to us. This often sparks ideas of what we may want to do, be, or have in this life phase and inspires us to act. We may feel a tingle of excitement as we start daydreaming about what we want and how to accomplish it. We begin the process of moving thought into form and an idea into action.

Then, something odd often happens. Seeds of doubt begin to sprout and multiply in an out-of- control fashion. We start telling ourselves all the reasons we can’t do what we were so excited about doing five minutes before. Author Steven Pressfield talks about this phenomenon in his best-selling book The War of Art. He calls this force “resistance” and the goal of resistance is to kill off your ideas, dreams, and goals.

What you may not realize is the resistance you experience is proportional to the positive affect your idea or goal will have on the world. The more your idea will make a difference, the more resistance you will encounter. Resistance uses fear to try to shut the door of opportunity by convincing us we cannot possibly accomplish our desires. We wrestle with resistance as it speaks to us through our inner voices reciting every weakness we have and reminding us of every time we have failed. We have a decision to make. Will we succumb to the voices and shrink ourselves and our vision or will we push past them and expand ourselves and our world? Your values will determine the answer to this question.

If discovery, growth, determination, and persistence are not among your core or aspirational values, resistance is likely to prevail. What I find interesting is having or desiring the tiniest amount of a value is much like having a mustard seed of faith. Our values can grow with intention, attention, and nurturing. Staring down resistance is much like staring down a bully. Your knees may knock but if they don’t buckle you are one step closer to accomplishing your goal. Even the smallest step forward shrinks resistance and increases your resolve to continue moving forward.

In a phase of life where many are telling you to give up on your dreams and to ignore your values, I say “Don’t give up and don’t give in!” You can still accomplish great things. You can still be extraordinary. Go ahead and take the first step, whatever it may be. The path forward will appear, and you do have the courage and determination to make your dream a reality.