The War of Art
5.0
10 min

The War of Art

by Steven Pressfield

Brief Summary

“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield is a compelling and thought-provoking book that delves into the challenges people face in their creative and professional pursuits. Unlike authors of traditional books on creativity or self-help, Pressfield takes a unique approach by framing these challenges as a formidable and ever-present enemy: resistance.

Key points

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Key idea 1 of 8

We've all experienced the feeling of resistance. Usually, it comes as a hesitation. Do you remember dreaming of creating your own blog or starting a photography career? And you've held it back?

Well, that's what resistance was. The force that kept your dreams from becoming your reality. Introducing a new routine into your daily life usually involves fighting the resistance. It is mostly negative and stands in between you and unexpected changes. Imagine you wish to start an acting career. But that tiny voice deep inside you told you about all the possible scenarios where you'd fail. Aren't you really into acting? Well, resistance could find its way around. This voice would whisper to you to put things off until your deadline has already passed.

But don't worry, this feeling is pretty common. It affects everyone occasionally, and you can't hide from it. Whether it's an interest in helping others or doing better things for yourself – you may still feel resistant to those. It can affect people with a lot of experience as well. Henry Fonda, an actor, used to throw up before every performance he did despite his age. Even his accomplishments as an actor didn't help him being unbothered before heading to the stage.

Self-doubts, fears, or even putting work off are all part of the resistance. However, we can defeat them by turning our focus back to our goals and dreams. Stay true to your craft and accept the resistance to beat it to succeed. See it as a vital part of your life journey.

01
Everyone experiences a mental force, resistance, that impedes our efforts.
02
Don't let resistance hold you back; instead, make the most of it and reach your potential.
03
To overcome resistance, treat your dream with unwavering professionalism and dedication.
04
The journey of an artist is riddled with challenges and setbacks.
05
Having a routine in our lives can invite inspiration to flourish.
06
People who are committed to their chosen territory work tirelessly to achieve their goals
07
Think outside the box, act outside the box.
08
Final summary

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