This week our challenges come from pages 39-52, of The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Nate hosts this week's podcast and crafted out challenges.
Page 42: “If you’re feeling Resistance, the good news is, it means there’s tremendous love there too. If you didn’t love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn’t feel anything. The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.” And on page 46, Pressfield talks about his characters and his work being more interesting than his real life. First challenge: Write down three or more things you love about your art. Some questions to get you started: What made you start your current project? What keeps you going back to it? What about it is more exciting and interesting to you than the rest of your life? Keep this list as a weapon against resistance, and feel free to add to it over time.
Discussion of quote from pages 48-49: “Remember, the part of us that we imagine needs healing is not the part we create from; that part is far deeper and stronger. The part we create from can’t be touched by anything our parents did, or society did. That part is unsullied, uncorrupted; soundproof, waterproof, and bulletproof. In fact, the more troubles we’ve got, the better and richer that part becomes. The part that needs healing is our personal life. Personal life has nothing to do with work.” Agree? Disagree?
On pages 44 through 47, Pressfield take about never truly being alone. When he works, he is with his Muse, his Self, his characters, his reader. Second challenge: Set aside some time to work on your art alone this week. As you do, take note of who is with you even while you are working alone. Your characters? Your future audience? Your subject? Let their presence motivate you.
Discussion of quote from page 51: “Seeking support from friends and family is like having your people gathered around at your deathbed. It’s nice, but when the ship sails, all they can do is stand on the dock waving goodbye.”
This is less connected to the actual pages and more of an exercise I thought would be fun and interesting, but it could be tangentially connected to the idea of stardom on page 43. Third challenge: Pick an artist who inspires you and find an artist who inspired them. Spend some time with that creator’s work.