What Resistance Is Really Trying to Tell You (And Why You Should Listen) with Tracy Matthews and Heather Chauvin

Tracy Matthews I December 3, 2025

Why Resistance in Business Isn't What You Think

Have you ever felt like you're pushing against an invisible force in your business? Like there's something keeping you from the next level, but you can't quite name it?

That's resistance. And it's not the enemy you think it is.

In this episode of Creatives Rule the World, I sat down with Heather Chauvin, a leadership coach who helps high-performing women stop abandoning themselves and start trusting their gut.

Heather's story is remarkable. She built her entire coaching business while battling stage 4 cancer, literally taking client calls from her hospital bed. If anyone understands resistance, fear, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward, it's her.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[9:03] Why resistance is actually your body trying to keep you safe (and how to use it as a growth tool instead of fighting it)
[13:07] Heather's powerful story: building her coaching business from her hospital bed while battling stage 4 cancer
[25:06] The critical difference between failure and pivoting, and why one keeps you stuck while the other moves you forward
[31:07] My story of intentionally descaling my seven-figure business and sitting in two years of uncertainty before clarity finally came
[37:31] How to develop your internal guidance system and know when something is a true yes or a protective no
[43:21] The “wouldn't it be nice if” journaling practice that brings instant clarity when you're stuck or overwhelmed
[52:31] Why becoming the adult you needed as a child is the deepest work of entrepreneurship and how it connects to business success

What Is Resistance Really Trying to Tell You?

Most entrepreneurs treat resistance like a problem to solve or a wall to break through. We hustle harder. We push more. We tell ourselves we just need to “get over it.”

But what if resistance is actually trying to show you something? What if it's your internal guidance system pointing you toward the exact place you need to look?

Heather introduced me to her “wouldn't it be nice if” journaling technique, a simple practice that brings instant clarity when you're stuck. She also shared a powerful metaphor that completely changed my perspective:

“Stop beating your face against the brick wall. Your teeth are going to fall out. Just keep walking along the wall, leaning into it. It will end eventually.”

The Real Reason You Experience Business Resistance

We went deep in this conversation. I opened up about the moment my first business was completely wiped out in 2008, how I sat in a season of waiting for almost two years before clarity came, and the story of my mother's death and how it shaped every choice I've made as an entrepreneur.

Heather shared why she believes people's children send them to her, how she became the woman she needed as a child, and why the only real failure is when you decide to quit.

Understanding Resistance as a Growth Tool

Resistance isn't trying to stop you. It's trying to protect you. And once you understand this distinction, everything changes.

Your body, mind, and subconscious use resistance to keep you from stepping into what's next for you, or expanding to a bigger capacity. But here's the truth: resistance shows up exactly where you need to grow.

How to Apply These Resistance Strategies in Your Creative Business

This episode offers practical strategies you can implement immediately:

1. Use the “Wouldn't It Be Nice If” Technique: When you're feeling stuck or unclear, write “wouldn't it be nice if” at the top of a page and let yourself flow. This removes pressure and opens up possibility.

2. Create a Resentment List: Every resentment you feel reveals a boundary you haven't set. Write down what you're resenting, then ask yourself: what boundary do I need to implement?

3. Lean Into the Wall, Don't Break Through It: When you hit resistance, try leaning into it with curiosity instead of forcing your way through. Walk along the wall until it ends.

4. Set Goals Without Shame: Practice setting big goals knowing you might not hit them. The momentum you build matters more than perfect execution.

5. Ask: Is This Failure or a Pivot? Before you beat yourself up, ask if this is truly failure or if it's life redirecting you toward something better aligned.

When Resistance Shows Up, Listen

If you're in a season of uncertainty, if you're feeling resistance and don't know what it means, or if you're tired of beating your face against the wall, this conversation will give you a new framework.

The answer is already inside you. You just have to give yourself permission to sit with the discomfort long enough to hear it.

Listen to the full episode now and let me know what resonates. Send me a DM on Instagram @iamtracymatthews and tell me which moment hit you hardest.

xo, Tracy

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