A brilliant book into the creative process, the resistance, why we must overcome it and how we must be truly what we are. The tagline - Break through the blocks and win your inner creative battles!
Book One - Resistance - Defining the Enemy
'The Enemy is a very good teacher.' - the Dalai Lama
Pressfield emphasises this - sitting down to write (or create anything) is hard. Our enemy for our own good is our resistance which comes in many toxic forms insidiously, making us believe that it is our life and not the one we are born to fulfill. Basically it keeps us from doing our life's work - which results in what he calls the 'unlived life'. He says it was easier for Hitler (a serious illustrator who wanted to study the craft) to start World War II than to stare at a blank square of canvas.
The activities that elicit resistance are:
1) writing, painting, music, film, dance, any creative art
2)launch of any entrepreneurial venture
3) any diet or health regimen
4) spiritual advancement programs
5) any activity to overcome habits and addictions
6) education of every kind
8) any act of political, moral,ethical courage including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves
9) any undertaking of any enterprise to help others
10) any act that entails commitment of the heart
11) the taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity
Resistance is always lying- its intent is to stop you. The more important a call of action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we feel towards pursuing it.
He gives a nice example of how Henry Fonda, even at 75, would throw up before every stage show. The fear would be there but he would go through it. Pressfield says that we must master the fear and conquer it.
"The danger is greatest when the finish line is in sight.'
Resistance by definition is self-sabotage. And also sabotage by others who are around you (for eg those who keep saying you are 'changing' and 'are not the person you were' etc). To overcome this on your own evolution he says, be ruthless with yourself and with others. Keep your focus on your priority which is your evolution.The most common form of resistance is procrastination. Other forms can be sex or any other instant gratification modes such as drugs, adultery etc. A penchant to get into trouble (to get out banish all troubles from your life), drama (banish all drama), disease, victimhood to manipulate others.
Resistance shows up in such patterns - unhappiness (starts as being bored leads to stuff like drugs or adultery to beat boredom and further leads to depression, aggressive behavior and may even lead to crime and destructive behavior), fundamentalism, criticism. However behaviors like self-doubt, fear, are good signs just as a habit of being alone is (the author would keep his characters or his readers for company during his days of isolation when he wrote). He is not a big fan of support groups, workshops etc which he says only distract you from work.
The biggest ally for resistance is rationalisation which comes because we do not want to face our fear and create a story to justify our lack of action. But we must believe that it can be beaten.
Book two - Combating Resistance - Turning Pro
'It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior's life,' - Telamen of Arcadia
Pressfield says - get serious, put yourself out there, don't dabble, commit. Be a professional and not just an amateur (Professionals are there for keeps, make it their vocation, are full time at it, 7 days a week, show up on time every day, go through the misery of isolation/rejection/doubt/despair/ridicule/contempt/humiliation, because the stakes are high and real. They also get paid for their job, are always seeking mastery and have a sense of humour. Professionals are patient, seek order, look at it like craft and not art, act in the face of fear, do not give excuses, plays it as it lays, are fully prepared and do not show off. Professionals seek to master technique, ask for help, do not take failure personally,endures adversity, self-validates, knows limitations, reinvents himself, is recognised by other pros. Amateurs are there for fun, make it their avocation, work on it on weekends etc.)
Commit. Put it out there. Struggle with it. Don't take the easy way out.
Book Three - Beyond Resistance - The Higher Realm
'The first duty is to sacrifice to the gods and pray to them to grant you the thoughts, words and deeds likely to render your command most pleasing to the gods and to bring yourself, your friends and your city the fullest measure of affection and glory and advantage.' - Xenophon
Pressfield says that heaven comes to our aid when we work with the muse. Pray to the Muse (he cites an invocation to the Muse from Homers Odyssey - TE Lawrence's translation)
Apparently there are nine muses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, whose job is to inspire artists. They are Clio, Erato, Thalia, Terpsichore, Urama, Polyhymnia, Euterpe, Melpomene and Calliope. Basically Pressfield is saying - take help from everyone.
He talks of how when we learn we may soon die, the seat of our consciousness shifts. He talks of how we must have territorial orientation towards our craft which shows as - it provides sustenance, it sustains us without external input, can only be claimed alone, can be claimed by work, returns exactly what you put in.
He defines this relationship like this - on a freaky day what do you do - hang out with your friends or go to your territory for peace. That's territorial orientation.
When asked about the virtue of the supreme warrior Spartan King Leonidas said - contempt for death.
Pressfield signs off with words from the Gita
"Give the act to me
Purged of hope and ego
Fix your attention on the soul
Act and do for me"
Perfect. And to end another quote he cites from Blake - "Eternity is in love with the creations of time"
...
A wonderful book that somehow manages to pull you out of a set pattern of resistance, make you aware of your unlived life, of our want to and our wariness in committing to it. Definitely pushed me in the right direction.
"Resistance is a bully. It has no strength of its own; its power derives entirely from our fear.'
Loved this line.
Thanks Vinod bhai. Wonderful gift - again!
Don't give in to resistance, stay the course, pursue your creative path. That's your divine gift.
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