compelling evidence

There's a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don't, and the secret is this: It's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is sitting down to write.

What keeps us from sitting down is Resistance.

--Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

I've been learning a lot about myself in Steven Pressfield's brilliant book The War of Art. I picked it up a few months ago after a friend told me it was one of the best books he'd ever read. After bringing it home, my husband promptly confiscated it for his own, but since he's his pile of books-in-progress is teetering even more than mine I had to steal it back and hope he doesn't notice. It's for a good cause.

Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

--Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

What I've been experiencing with my art (and it rears its ugly head in all kinds of areas of our lives where we desire to grow or make a change) Steven Pressfield calls Resistance. That internal struggle that manifests itself in fear, laziness, apathy, distraction, addiction--anything and everything to keep us from our calling.

Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease, and erectile dysfunction. To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.

--Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Resistance and I are best friends and old enemies. But I'm through with letting it control me. Here's the proof that it has sunk its claws in deep, but I'm determined to shake them off come what may.

 

Right now I have to concentrate on the new house and the move but it's a choice I make and not an escape from my work. Inwardly I'm dying to dip my hands in colors and I'm even setting aside a few choice art supplies to that end, but not now. I'm letting it build. And I'm working hard on cleaning, organizing, purging, packing, etc. to keep the momentum going. Hard work is good for the soul and in a day or two, I should have a new place to work. Because my work is important.

You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts and later to the School of Architecture. Ever see one of his paintings? Neither have I. Resistance beat him. Call it overstatement but I'll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas.

 --Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Comments

[Randi Nervig]

Can't tell you how much I needed to read this today. Thank you! And I'm so glad you got your mojo back because I've been missing you.

[Sherri]

Wow--I seriously have goosebumps!
Thank you so much for this post.

[Denise]

Wow!

[Immigrant Daughter]

You remind me of my older sister who was so talented in arts and crafts. she could do anything with her hands and it was beautiful.

[Misty Kirkland]

Amen Sister, how funny you should mention it, I've been consumed by these images of paintings that need to come out, mentally & physically they have to be exorcised. I believe resistance is truly a dream killer, I guess, the best medicine, is to just DO IT. Love ya-Misty

[Mary Albrethsen]

Misty Kirkland was dead on when she called resistance a DREAM KILLER. Exactly my problem, I have millions of ideas and never seem to get any thing done. I copied some of the quotes above and they now hang over my computer, work table, and sewing machine. Thanks for a wake up call.
Mary