How to Push Past Resistance and Commit to Success

We all know that feeling. You’ve committed to studying or getting in a workout, but when the moment comes, there’s this inner voice telling you to skip it. Maybe it’s freezing outside, or the sun feels like it could melt concrete, and your body just wants to stay inside where it’s comfortable. This struggle is real, and it has a name: limbic friction, as coined by the Stanford University Professor of Medicine, Andrew Huberman.

Limbic friction is when the part of your brain that craves comfort and pleasure resists what your rational, disciplined side knows you should do. It’s the conflict between what feels easy and what’s actually good for you. We’re wired this way, and it’s perfectly normal. Our brains are built to protect us from discomfort, even if that discomfort might be necessary for growth.

But here’s the thing: there’s a real benefit to pushing through that resistance. Each time you do, you’re not only completing a task, but you’re also training yourself to handle discomfort better. It’s a practice in resilience. You learn to get things done even when the conditions aren’t ideal, and over time, this starts to become second nature.

There’s a certain kind of strength that comes from doing what needs to be done, regardless of how you feel. It’s not about motivation, which is fleeting. It’s about discipline, which is built by repeating good habits consistently over time. When you continuously resist the urge to quit, you’re forming the foundational habits that make you more reliable, both to yourself and others. It’s not about perfection; it’s about showing up repeatedly.

What makes limbic friction even tougher, though, are the social pressures we face. Sometimes, the people around us don’t understand our commitments. Friends might want us to stay out late instead of getting enough sleep to hit the gym in the morning. Family might not get why we’re spending hours studying instead of relaxing. These social challenges can feel heavy, and it’s tempting to cave to them. But part of sticking to what’s important is setting boundaries and remembering why you started in the first place.

If you find that your environment isn’t supportive, it can help to connect with others who are on a similar path. Maybe it’s an online community or a workout buddy who gets why you’re pushing yourself. But ultimately, the commitment is yours to uphold, even when it’s not easy or convenient.

Pushing past limbic friction doesn’t require a miracle or a burst of motivation. Sometimes, it just takes starting. Tell yourself you’ll do a few minutes of whatever it is, and more often than not, you’ll keep going. And if that doesn’t work, try to reframe how you think about discomfort. Instead of avoiding it, see it as a signal that you’re challenging yourself and growing. It’s not about making things feel easy but about learning to navigate the hard stuff better.

At the end of the day, it’s about being true to your word—especially to yourself. There’s a certain peace in knowing that you can trust yourself to follow through. And even if the journey gets lonely or difficult, the sense of accomplishment is worth it. Each time you push through the resistance, you’re proving to yourself that you can handle whatever comes your way.

So, if there’s something you’ve been avoiding or putting off, try starting small. Commit to just a few minutes and see where it takes you. Growth happens one step at a time, and sometimes, the hardest part is just getting started.

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