Day 44 - Book 2 - The War of Art

It’s one thing to study or understand creativity.  And another to live a creative life.  Pressfield alerts the reader to the patterns of resistance in the previous chapter.  This chapter focuses on a shift of thinking that is necessary for living a creative life. He compares the amateur and a professional life as a metaphor for one to gauge the energy they are using.  If it’s a hobby toward their creativity, then all sorts of patterns of resistance continue to play their role.  He suggests by using a shift of thinking this their creating is their job, their profession, and they do their work, no matter what resistance shows up.  He furthers this with a review of the Principle of Priority in showing the difference between urgent and important.  With one’s work, one must continue on the path of following what is important.  This shift of thinking gives the author contentment with knowing he has done the job he was to do, rather than allowing other forms of resistance to deplete his energy of completing his work.  He suggests there are ways to be miserable in the world by dining on a “diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”  He suggests we sign up for misery, just as easily as we can sign up for being a professional.  Doing our own work no matter what shows up.  Show up daily to do the work, staying on task when the mind wanders.  Not to over identify with one’s job.  Stay committed to the profession, accepting income to support one’s self.  Master the techniques of the profession.  And above all keep a sense of humor or perspective about one’s work, especially when receiving praise or blame, to not let paralysis set in.

I encourage you to buy a copy of The War of Art for a better understanding of your own creative process.  Whether you're a master artist or beginning artist, this is an excellent book. 

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