What is Steven Pressfield’s idea of resistance? How does resistance hold back creative people from achieving their ambitions? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Steven Pressfield, resistance is the reason many people don’t achieve their dreams. Resistance is anything that stops you from taking creative action, including inner fears, procrastination, and self-doubt<\/a>. In The War of Art<\/a><\/em>, Pressfield explores the idea of resistance and tells you how to overcome it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out more about Steven Pressfield’s resistance concept below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n What\u2019s stopping you from fulfilling your dreams<\/a>? Is it time, family, motivation, fear, or one of several distractions you face on a regular basis? In The War of Art<\/em>, Steven Pressfield says it\u2019s all of these things and places them under one umbrella\u2014resistance<\/em>. Although the book mostly discusses resistance surrounding creative pursuits, the book speaks to anyone trying to attain personal growth<\/a> and satisfaction in their life by following their heart\u2019s desire<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pressfield breaks down the enemy within that holds you back from reaching your potential<\/a>, how to reframe your pursuits for success, and how to tap into your creative power. Understanding resistance and how to push past it is important not only to honor the genius you were born with, but also to ensure you don\u2019t spiral into a state of dissatisfaction with yourself and life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance is an internal sensation that is more powerful than any external force in stopping you from achieving your goals<\/a>. It\u2019s the little voice in your head<\/a> that says you aren\u2019t good enough, strong enough, or motivated enough to start your creative journey. It is a faceless, formless, and heartless energy with the sole purpose of ensuring you never start the work that will lead to your true nature. Whether you\u2019re an artist, inventor, or scientist, resistance flares up each time you start or think about starting the work you were born to do<\/strong>. If left unchecked, resistance will lead you down a road of psychological instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance is activated by fear and gains strength every time you give in to that fear. Resistance takes on many forms: procrastination; a fixation with self-soothing or instantly gratifying behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use or entertainment; or a gravitation toward trouble or drama in your life, since they help distract your mind from the important work. Resistance manipulates you by providing what you need to continue avoiding the work you know you must do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We all have a part of ourselves that is unrealized\u2014a dream or calling that encompasses our true selves. But many of us struggle to live those authentic lives. What stops us is something called resistance<\/em>. According to Steven Pressfield, resistance is the enemy of achievement. <\/strong>Artists who don\u2019t create art, innovators who don\u2019t innovate, and healthy people who live unhealthy lives are all losing their battles with resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance is a toxic force and the cause of many negative psychological issues. When you lose the battle with resistance, you likely experience some form of depression, discontent, and unhappiness as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like everyone else, you have genius inside you. Genius is Latin for \u201cinner-guiding spirit.\u201d Your spirit<\/em> is the force that encompasses your truest self. It is the voice inside that tells you what your true calling is.<\/strong> Your unique brand of talents and desires, whether you are a writer, fashion designer, or scientist, is your spirit. When you don\u2019t act on that spirit, you are giving in to resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many have fallen before you under the weight of resistance, and many will fall after you. The sad part is that you likely won\u2019t know that it\u2019s resistance holding you back<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of someone who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. With nothing left to lose, he finally does all the things his heart has always desired. He starts a travel blog, takes up painting, volunteers at a homeless shelter, or starts a non-profit for runaways. He is happier than he\u2019s ever been because he is finally living his dream. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t want to wait for the prospect of death to move you to follow your heart\u2019s desire.<\/strong> You must learn to wage war against resistance if you want to accomplish your dreams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following principles regarding resistance will help you understand what it is and where it comes from. When you understand these principles, you can learn to push past resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 1: Resistance has no form.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 2: Resistance is not an external force. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 3: Resistance is cunning. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 4: Resistance is unyielding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 5: Resistance doesn\u2019t discriminate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 6: Resistance is a compass.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 7: Everyone experiences resistance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 8: A war with resistance is a battle to the death.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 9: You give resistance its power.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 10: You only feel resistance on the rise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 11: The last hurdle is the hardest to cross.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Principle 12: Resistance uses reinforcements. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance is only activated by pursuits that gratify your higher calling and lead to long-term growth and good health.<\/strong> Some examples of these types of pursuits are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of how resistance differentiates between higher and lower callings is the life of Adolf Hitler. Hitler wanted to be a painter and architect. He applied to art school, but the resistance standing between him and his goal was too great. He struggled with criticism and was scared to put his dreams on the line. In the end, it was easier for Hitler to start a world war and oppress an entire population than go through the pains of committing to his art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve learned about what resistance is and how to recognize it in your life. You\u2019ve also learned the consequences of allowing resistance to guide your behaviors. But there are other ways in which resistance influences you. The following section provides a more comprehensive understanding of how resistance shows up in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As opposed to the behavior symptoms presented in the above section, these symptoms all present as attitudes founded in emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you criticize others, it\u2019s a good indication that resistance is strong in your life. You may feel envious of people who are living their dreams and attempt to tear them down. This behavior only masks how scared you are to begin your own journey. Resistance is a personal sensation, but it can cause you to harm other people.<\/strong> Be careful of moments when you feel the need to criticize others. Likely, the problem is with you, not them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are working within the power of your true spirit, you have no reason to feel threatened or offended by another\u2019s success. You understand how hard it is to push past resistance and follow your dreams, so you provide encouragement, not criticism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any artist following their calling is going to experience doubt about their talents. The little voice in your head saying you\u2019re not good enough is resistance. But you can use that voice to empower yourself<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Doubt is a sign that something is important to you. When you express doubt, you’re signifying your passion about reaching your potential.<\/strong> If you ever wonder whether you\u2019re really an artist, know that the answer is yes. Impostors tend to be overconfident because their souls are not on the line. True artists have everything to lose. If you experience doubt, it\u2019s a good sign that you\u2019re on the right track to your heart\u2019s desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, fear is a huge indication that you\u2019re headed toward personal growth. Fear can be tricky because, as mentioned, it activates resistance and gives it strength. But you can counteract the relationship between fear and resistance by using fear as a guide. As a general rule\u2014the more you fear the work, the more you should pursue it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many actors only take roles that scare them. They do this because these roles challenge their abilities and push them out of their comfort zones. They see an opportunity to grow and get closer to their full potential. The same is true for you. You feel so much resistance when you\u2019re scared to pursue something because the work means something to you.<\/strong> If it didn\u2019t, you\u2019d feel no resistance. Use your fear to propel you forward because the deeper parts of yourself<\/a> and talent lie on the other side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like doubt and fear, you only feel vulnerable when your heart is on the line. When you feel a deep emotional connection\u2014something akin to love\u2014 to the work, failure feels visceral. Therefore, you feel vulnerable, and feeling vulnerable is uncomfortable. Resistance uses that feeling to drive you away from your work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re overwhelmed by resistance, you know you\u2019re doing something you love.<\/strong> The joy and satisfaction you feel when you accomplish your goal will be immense because of how much you love it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The antithesis of love is indifference, not hate. If you don\u2019t love the work you\u2019re pursuing, it\u2019s probably not the right work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance will distract you with grandiose ideas about rewards and status. <\/strong>You must ignore those ideas\u2014they are false motivators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A true artist understands that work is required for success. There is no way around it. So when grand ideas enter your process, accept them as resistance and push forward with the hard work. The joy you find in the work is what will help you reach the potential, not external commendations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance makes you believe you need motivation to start your work. It tells you that you must get support from others to achieve that motivation. Therefore, you spend time and energy attending conferences and workshops, reaching out to loved ones, and discussing your fears with colleagues. None of that time is you sitting down to do the work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We all need support from family and friends. But the work has to come from you, regardless of how much or little support you have from your personal network<\/a>.<\/strong> If you wait to start your work until you have a suitable amount of encouragement, resistance is winning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you rationalize something, you are trying to justify your choices. Imagine what resistance could do with that! In fact, rationalization is the operational mode of choice for resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resistance is fear, as you\u2019ve already learned. But if you only felt fear, you might recognize it as such and maybe start to feel ashamed for letting it get in your way. That shame could be enough motivation to jump start your work. Resistance can\u2019t have that, so it presents you with rationalizations to push you farther away from the work you\u2019re afraid to start<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can justify not starting your work for a number of reasons. The day job takes up too much time. The kids need your attention. Whatever it is, you rationalize that it\u2019s simply too hard for you to start your work now, so you put it off for a more convenient time. What makes the situation worse is that those rationalizations are valid. You may have a lot of \u201creal\u201d work, and you might have children. But those things are not what\u2019s stopping you from following your calling. Fear is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t buy into the rationalizations. You always have the power to make art, even if it\u2019s after the kids are in bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps you believe never achieving your true calling is not a big deal. You\u2019ve found a way to be content with life, so why rock the boat? You may think you\u2019re content, but what you don\u2019t realize is that allowing resistance to have power in your life eventually leads you down a path to profound unhappiness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Steven Pressfield, Resistance is like a bully. Like all bullies, it feeds on the fear of its target. The more you cower in the face of resistance, the stronger it becomes and the more frequently it will pester you. When you are a professional, you take that power away by standing your ground, sitting down, and doing the work<\/a> each day. You refuse to have your lunch money stolen and get shoved into another locker. You look resistance in the eye and say, \u201cgive me your best shot.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A bully doesn\u2019t know what to do when their target stands up to them. They suddenly have no more hold over their weaker opponent. Resistance also doesn\u2019t know what to do when you ignore its efforts to derail you.<\/strong> When you refuse to back down in the face of resistance, you become stronger and more persistent than resistance. You\u2019ve defeated the bully. You will gain confidence in your strength. You will know that you don\u2019t have to be afraid anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no special formula to follow to become a professional. Make the decision to turn pro, and just like that, you\u2019ll be one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only thing you have to do to win the battle against resistance is do the work. The work is where your creative power lives. You fall into a timeless space where the rest of the world drops away. You are alone on your creative island, and only you have access to this part of yourself. The person you show the world is not the person working with your internal genius. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To reach this creative space, you must be a professional in your work, not an amateur. When you\u2019re an amateur, you dabble in your art whenever inspiration strikes or you\u2019re in the right mood. You\u2019re not committed to your art, and your goals center around fun, money, and status. Resistance loves an amateur because you are easily distracted from the work. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSteven Pressfield on Resistance and Creativity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Is Resistance?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Characteristics of Resistance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Targets of Resistance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Signs You\u2019re Facing Resistance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Criticism of Others<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Self-Doubt and Fear<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Vulnerability<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Misplaced Priorities<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Leaning on Others<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Power of Rationalizations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overcome Resistance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n