Posted by
Icarus on Sunday, December 21, 2008 6:45:41 PM
Here is a bit from Steven Pressfield's book,
The War of Art, a fascinating read if you have in the back of your mind to write that book, paint that painting, start the business venture, get closer to God, or even flatten that stomach.I discovered this gem of a book after listening to Robert Kiyosaki's book "
Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Business"
What elicits Resistance - in no particular order:
1. The pursuit
of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art however
marginal or unconventional.
2. The
launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise for profit or
otherwise.
3. Any
diet or health regimen.
4. Any
program of spiritual advancement.
5. Any
activity whose aim is tighter abdominals.
6. Any
course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction.
7. Education
of every kind.
8. Any
act of political, moral or ethical courage including the decision to
change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in
ourselves.
9. The
undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others.
10. Any
act that entail commitment of the heart - the decision to get married, to
have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship.
11. The
taking of any principled stand in the face of adversary.
In other words
any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long term growth,
health or integrity.
There are a lot of quotable lines in the book, in addition to those above. Here is one that I particularly liked, which seems to characterize many who elected our next President:
"Those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find
masters to govern over them."