Overcoming The Resistance: Higher Callings

I am reading and reflecting on the excellent book by Stephen Pressfield, The War of Art.  I actually read the manifesto Do The Work by Pressfield some time ago, and many of the ideas within War of Art were being fleshed out there.  

Sadly, I think I read Pressfield's manifesto when I was on one of my "read a book a week" kicks, and didn't really absorb the straight up truths that he was laying down about creativity, art and the pursuit of calling.

Pressfield writes novels.  His most famous, The Legend of Bagger Vance was made into a movie.  His most recent novel was about the battle of Thermopylae.

Pressfield speaks a great deal about what he calls Resistance--that which keeps us from pursuing our true calling, being our true selves, producing the art that we were born to produce.

He offers a list of the activities, the callings, the art that most commonly cause Resistance to rear it's ugly head.  See if you can find one that resonates with you in this list, and reflect on how Resistance might be keeping you from pursuing it with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

1.  The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional. 


2.  The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise.  


3.  Any diet or health regimen. 


4.  Any program of spiritual advancement. 


5.  Any activity whose aim is tighter abdominals. 


6.  Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction. 


7.  Education of every kind. 


8.  Any act of political, moral or ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in ourselves.


9.  The undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others. 


10.  Any act that entails commitment of the heart.  The decision to get married, to have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship.  


11.  The taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity. 
                                                                          (Pressfield, War of Art pp 4-5)


There's something about each of these that speaks to "higher calling," isn't there?

Where are you experiencing the most resistance?  Which of these scares you the most?  Perhaps that will tell you something about what you need to do next.

Related articles

• How to Create and Finish Anything ... Work the Do

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• [Book Review]: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

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• Steven Pressfield quotes on the Courage and the Creative Process

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