Book : “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield

Today I want to talk about one of my most favorite book called the War of Art : Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. This book was recommended to me by my mentor and has changed my life and business so much that I thought I’d share my take aways with you…

The Resistance holding us back

Have you ever wanted to do something and felt like you couldn’t? You kept thinking about it and kept pushing it back to tomorrow? You made all kind of excuses why you couldn’t. You really truly wanted to do it and yet …you didn’t, just like some kind of “force” was preventing you to?

As an entrepreneur, I’m 100% sure you have experienced this at one time of another. The force preventing you to sit down and just do what you know you have to do. I mean who doesn’t have these moments? In the first part of the book the author defines where this negative force comes from.

Is it fear of failure? fear of success? bad karma ?? If not, then what is it?

Fighting the ennemy

In the War of Art, Steven Pressfield calls this force “resistance” and compares this to a sort of ennemy trying to trick you into not doing what you have to do. Ya know, like some kind of evil force that doesn’t want you to create or shine too much. The moment you feel inspired, it shows up in your face time and time again to create all kinds of barriers to your progress. I really love how Mr. Pressfield painted that picture of the resistance because it really makes me want to get rid of it. I mean who wants to let the evil win right? 😉

Second part of the book talks about how to overcome that resistance. Now before you get too excited, the solution is not as easy as you’d hope. But there is one! The solution this book provides is to simply turning pro. That means, do what pros do which is pretty much work their way past it. In other words, acknowledging the force but not letting it win. Or like this other book from Susan Jeffers suggests: “feel the fear and do it anyway!!”

When you do this, the resistance will go away. This is how athletes wins competitions. They show up day after day, not matter the circumstances. Even on the days where they don’t feel like going to the gym, they still go to the gym. You have to do like the Nike slogan says… Just do it!

Beyond Resistance

In the third part of the book, the author enters a more spiritual explanation of this immutable force and talks about what is beyond resistance. It talks about the difference between our TRUE SELF ( spirit ) and our physical body. The fact that we often identify to our physical body when it is actually our inner self that is coming up with all the ideas and creativity we have. When we experience resistance that would actually means our physical self or “ego” is in the way and letting it stop our true self which is actually somewhat selfish. I believe this to be so true and something that more people need to be aware of. The only way we can truly serve our purpose in the world is by letting go of our ego and what others might think. That is the only way we’re gonna be able to follow our inner calling.

I highly encourage you to grab a copy of this book. I personally wish I had read it before and I know I’m gonna read it again. It is a quick read and I know it could also help you overcome your blocks and change your life for the better.

Did you like this ? Would you like more book review? If so, leave me a comment below 🙂

To your dream life,