The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks
and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
by Steven Pressfield
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now. – Goethe
I found The War of Art on many ‘Must Read’ book lists, so I had to read it – and I am so glad I did.
If you are absolutely certain that you are living the life you want to live and doing the things you want to do, then you might not need to read this book. Everyone else should read it. Here are some details:
- The book is small, short, and an easy read (could be read in a few hours or over 2 evenings)
- It’s broken down into very short (usually 1 page) ideas or lessons
- The author is a writer, but the book can apply to all creatives/ artists (or anyone who wants to accomplish something in life)
Core Message
The core message of the book is that we ought to do in life what is within us. Too many of us die with our ‘art’ unexpressed. Art can mean many things here, not just what we think of traditionally.
The ‘War’ we have that holds us back from doing the things we want in life is an internal war. We all know that internal voice that tells us we can’t do something, we’re not good enough, it’s not the right time, we’ll never make it, it’s not practical, etc.
The book is motivating and inspiring to anyone needing confirmation or a kick in the pants to know that it’s okay to do what you love – to do what is within you.
Not only is it okay, you ought to do it.
One could say that the main focus of the book is on the concept of Resistance. In fact, the author says that Resistance is, ‘the most toxic force on the planet’.
What is Resistance?
The author, Pressfield says that we have 2 lives. One life is the life that we live and the other is the life within us that we are not living. Resistance is what stands between the life we live and the one within us.
Resistance is what holds us back from starting the business we want, from writing music, from doing art, from writing that book we have always wanted to write, from going back to school, etc.
Resistance is the inner obstacle that lives within us and limits us.
Resistance is evil and it holds us back from expressing our true selves.
The book is divided into 3 sections:
1. Resistance – Defining the Enemy
In this section, Pressfield clarifies what Resistance is and what it looks like. Oftentimes we may be resisting and not even know it.
Resistance comes in many forms, such as procrastination, excuse making, fear, rationalization, etc. It is all of these and more.
Common things that elicit Resistance:
- The thought of going back to school or learning something new
- The idea of starting a diet or health program
- The thought of starting a business
- Any idea based around doing any sort of art (writing, music, film, dance, painting, etc.)
- An act that commits the heart (getting married, having children, moving away)
Basically anything we might want to do for ourselves – to better ourselves, to enjoy ourselves, to challenge ourselves, to grow. Resistance comes on the scene to make it nearly impossible to do anything.
Common characteristics of Resistance:
- it is invisible, but very strongly felt
- it is internal
- it is relentless
- everyone experiences it
- fear is its fuel
- procrastination is a common manifestation of resistance
- it can involve substance abuse
- it can involve getting into arguments with others
- it can get us involved in other projects
- it leads to significant self doubt
- it involves rationalization
- it involves excuse making
- it can involve drama, trouble making, victimhood, self-medication, and the like
The most well known form of Resistance that we can all relate to is procrastination. The author says,
Procrastination… can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed. Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.
Resistance holds us back, keeps us down, makes us weak and can take over our life.
Is there any good news? Yes – Resistance can be beaten!
2. Combating Resistance – Turning Pro
Pressfield likens combating Resistance to becoming a ‘professional’. This isn’t referring to an actual profession or career, it means a way of approaching something.
If you are a ‘professional’ with respect to your art (or whatever you want to accomplish), then you think and behave differently toward that art.
Resistance does not like the ‘professional’, it cannot stay around for long once someone becomes a ‘professional’.
Aspiring artists defeated by Resistance share one trait. They all think like amateurs. They have not yet turned pro. The moment an artist turns pro is as epochal as the birth of his first child. With one stroke, everything changes. I can state absolutely that the term of my life can be divided into two parts: before turning pro and after.
Characteristics of a professional:
- they are at it everyday
- it is their vocation
- they love it and dedicate their life to it
- they have a schedule they keep to
- they always shows up
- they have a different mindset
- they are committed
- they have patience
- they accept no excuses
- they do what has to be done
- they do not take rejection or criticism personally
- they face fear
In contrast, the amateur or the one not fighting the Resistance is: only in it for fun, only works at it part-time, makes excuses for not doing it, is not in it for real.
There’s no mystery to turning pro. It’s a decision brought about by an act of will. We make up our mind to view ourselves as pros do it. Simple as that.
So there is no magic formula for turning pro, but it is a realization of what this Resistance is and a realization that in order to do what is within us, we must face, combat, and overcome the Resistance.
3. Beyond Resistance – The Higher Realm
This final section is “about those invisible psychic forces that support and sustain us in our journey toward ourselves”.
As Resistance works to keep us from becoming who we were born to be, equal and opposite powers are counter-poised against it. They are our allies and angels.
Here the author talks about calling on our angels and muses (but he encourages us to call this whatever we like – force, life energy, spirit, drive).
The gist of what he is saying is that there is something within you that needs to come out and there are forces present that want to help it come out.
Don’t let Resistance (self-doubt, insecurity, procrastination, perfectionism, fear, excuses) hold you back.
Here Pressfield’s words are so eloquent and inspiring:
We come into this world with a specific, personal destiny. We have a job to do, a calling to enact, a self to become. We are who we are from the cradle, and we are stuck with it.
Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.
If we were born to paint, it’s our job to become a painter. If we were born to raise and nurture children, it’s our job to be a mother. If we were born to overthrow the order of ignorance and injustice of the world, it’s our job to realize it and get down to business.
Looking within to discover what our ‘job’ is in this world takes courage, but we owe it to ourselves and the world to do just that. We will never feel truly fulfilled and happy in life otherwise.
Don’t hold your gift inside and take it to your grave.
If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don’t do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet…. Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.
Read about other internal ‘Wars’ we have that keep us from being truly happy.
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