The One Critical Part of Your Resistance Work That is Missing
Resistance demands clarity. Here's how you get it.
You’ve got your gear, you’ve done your PT, you’ve read the books. You’ve trained, trained others, and kept your mouth shut. You’re even better at recognizing the bad member prospects than you used to be. Good job; you’re further along than most.
Now let’s take it to the next level. The missing element? Orientation.
Not just direction or goals, but clarity and precision. Psychological stability, and a solid decision-making system that tracks patterns and allows you to understand yourself first, and the battlespace better.
And the most effective tool to build that Orientation isn’t another gadget. It’s a notebook.
Don’t worry; we aren’t journaling in the standard “Dear Diary” sense. This is a strategic self-alignment that leads to operational clarity, and an understanding of the most important resources (and biggest threats) you have: yourself.
Orientation is The Linchpin of Effective Resistance
Boyd’s OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) drives every effective resistance action. Orientation isn’t passive, and it is not purely about combat. It’s the interpretive engine that converts raw data into action. It is constantly being added to, refined, recalibrated—or at least it is if you’re serious about growth, maturity, and being the most effective you can.
This is where the notebook comes in. It's your field tool for refining your orientation on a weekly or daily basis. You use it to:
Log internal and external observations.
Note patterns, red flags, and manipulation attempts.
Record instincts that prove correct or off.
Recognize when you’re drifting psychologically or emotionally.
Journaling in this capacity isn’t about pouring out your problems and feelings. It’s a discipline that you choose because it helps you be intentional about your internal growth, your mission, and your work within it.
You can't act with discipline if you don't see your environment—or yourself—clearly. And once you recognize the patterns, discipline will help you act.
Why You Probably Avoid Journaling—and Why That’s a Problem
Most men who reject journaling, do so because they associate it with vulnerability, self-pity, or therapy. Most women who reject it do so because they’re already managing too many fires.
That bias is costing you clarity and leaving blind spots in your operational posture. Journaling done right isn’t about emotions or aesthetics. It’s about clarity, alignment, and situational awareness. It is how you track infiltration processes. It’s how you detect manipulation. It’s how you reclaim the data you’ll need to make the hard calls.
You should be tracking:
How people interact over time,
When and why you made key decisions,
What your gut told you before something went wrong,
It’s about cognitive warfare, infiltration detection, and self-correction.
Tactical Journaling: Bullet Journal Format for Resistance
I use a variation of the Bullet Journal® method, originally developed by Ryder Carroll, adapted specifically for resistance work. (And no, this isn’t a paid post; I’m just telling you what works for me.)
Let me give you a snapshot of how I use this in real life.
I keep a page of Intentions. These are not goals, but guiding principles I want to operationalize. Here are a few of them:
I orient to truth instead of emotion.
I watch for drift, and course correct as needed.
I seek to clearly identify patterns instead of punish mistakes.
I lead from solid identity that I already have, not one that I am seeking.
These intentions, which I read over each week during my planning sessions, help me correct course before I drift.
I also maintain a Red File. This is a collection of doctrinal insights, personal realizations, and strategic notes that are relevant to the kind of work I’m doing. It serves as a personal compass, reminds me of what I’ve learned, and serves as a basis for many of the articles here.
It’s not about tracking or documenting group activities, and it certainly isn’t going to violate any kind of OPSEC. What it DOES track is my judgment, my instincts, and the internal shifts that signal I need to recalibrate.
I happen to like the BulletJournal format because it’s minimalist, modular, and customizable. It took me a bit of time to get it the way I like it, but it works very well for what I need. You might find that another system works better for you.
Here’s how to build one for resistance work:
Index: Tag topics like infiltration attempts, cognitive flags ("third time this week I dismissed a red flag—why?”), or even psychological triggers that you catch yourself in (such as feeling a compulsion to show off how knowledgeable you are in a certain area, which is a signal that you need validation or acceptance). You could even track certain behaviors you might have that you’re trying to stop, and note the pattern of what happens immediately before you engage them (find the WHY rather than just trying to stop the WHAT). Behavioral addictions can be just as destructive as substance abuse.
Monthly Log: Track shifts in group cohesion, background flags.
Daily Log: Record brief notes—interactions, gut responses, observed inconsistencies.
Collections: Keep reference lists: vetting questions, disinformation tactics, ideas for actions that you can jot down as you get them.
Anything else that you decide you need to track and control.
All in one notebook, pen and paper only. Don’t do this on a device for obvious reasons.
If you’re reading this and still think you don’t have time, then you’re exactly the kind of person who needs it. Discipline only exists in an intentional environment; if you’re too busy to be intentional, then you’re missing some areas where you may need to tighten up your discipline.
What You Track is What You Control
You can’t fix what you don’t know exists. Journaling with intentionality creates data, and data creates potential for insight, as well as a basis for fixing problems before they get out of control.
You will recognize patterns you wouldn’t notice in the moment. (“Pattern: I tend to defend weak decisions or poor conduct when I’m emotionally invested in the person. Fix: Separate the person from the data.”
You’ll detect potential threats faster because you have the data to catch it. (“2nd time that M has mentioned his ability to procure materials from work. Why?”)
You’ll be able to tell exactly when and how your group gets off track, and have a plan to fix it. (“Grp seems highly motivated for public action but it doesn’t move the needle. Fix: Need to recenter on goals”)
You’ll recognize not only your own growth spots, but you’ll be able to track progress and see exactly how far you’ve come.
Wait, Doesn’t This Violate OPSEC?
No, not if it’s done correctly. Your journaling isn’t about “today we engaged in X activity.” It’s more like:
Noticing that one of your members has suggested an illegal activity four times in the last month and you hadn’t realized it was that often.
Coming across a really important point in a book you’re reading, and wanting to make sure you record it for re-reading often.
Realizing that you’re prone to shutting down a certain member when they talk, and need to explore why that is (is your gut telling you something?).
Writing down moments when your gut was right (or wrong) so you can learn to refine the instinct.
Like I say, you’re tracking what you do, think, want, and what obstacles you note to those things.
But, for those who want some hard boundaries to stay safe, start with these.
The 'Never Write This Down' List
To keep your notes secure and worthless to anyone who isn’t you, avoid writing down:
Real names or identifying personal information.
Specific locations of meetings, caches, or operations.
Descriptions of illegal activity or anything that implies intent.
Dates or times of past or planned actions.
Group structure, hierarchy, or roles.
Communication methods or device details.
Access codes, passwords, or encryption details.
If it could be read aloud in court and sound incriminating, don’t write it.
When you start this, you might feel like you have nothing to write about. That’s okay; you’re not looking to write a narrative or story. Just a sentence or two that reminds you where you’re supposed to be going will help you recognize when you’re off-track. After all, this isn’t a memoir you’re writing. It’s an ongoing orientation.
You can start with these five prompts:
What patterns in my behavior am I already aware of that help or hurt my focus?
Who made me feel uneasy this week, and what triggered the reaction? What did I do as a result?
When did I override my gut instinct recently, and how did it play out?
What moment made me feel reactive? Why did I get that way?
What principle or doctrine do I need to re-anchor myself to this week?
If you want to win, start with understanding how you play the game.