the battlefield

half the battle if showing up. i am reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. the book is about the reality of Resistance. what we all have inside of us that prevents us from creating. prevents us from pursuing the mastery of the art that calls to each of us. prevents us from winning.

it’s an enjoyable read albeit a quick one. i started reading and didn’t put the book down until i was halfway through. it’s inspiring more than anything else. but not inspiring in the typical self-help-book sort of way in that it doesn’t inject you with self-esteem. it doesn’t stroke your ego or pet your pride. conversely, it kicks your ass. it reminds you that you ain’t shit. at least the way you are carrying on presently. it makes you want to prove it wrong. and furthermore gives you the tools to do so.

i woke up at 7am today and free-wrote for ten minutes then jumped on here to update this blog and will (after a quick caffeine run) work for an hour or two on my screenplay. none of that is particularly impressive. no huge feats here. but it’s not about that. it’s about showing up. being present to do the work. committing yourself to your own art the way you commit yourself to slaving for the success of others.

and the book hasn’t just affected my writing. i ran 3 miles before retiring for the evening after a full day yesterday. my november marathon isn’t going to run itself and i’ve finally decided to show up. not just to the race but to the training. to the conditioning. to the mental preparation. to the work.

i would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Pressfield’s book. if for no other reason than to remind yourself that you are loser. and begin the work required to truly win.