My top 3 takeaways from The War of Art

Photo by Corina Ardeleanu on Unsplash

I recently finished reading Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, and I want to compile the aspects that stood out the most to me in a brief overview.

1. Resistance is everywhere

Steven Pressfield referring to creator’s block as resistance opened up an entire path of discovery for me. It changed the way I view my decisions.  

Pressfield labels close to everything as resistance, everything in life that takes away from your work as a creator.

He takes the idea of the “struggling artist” and expounds upon it almost obsessively. Which, at first, took me aback. Surely not everything is contributing to my struggle as an artist, right? Some things are unconnected. It’s not that deep, is it?

But the more I read and processed his words, the more it resonated with me. I looked at my day to day life now in comparison to a few years ago, and the difference is startling.

All because back then, resistance was winning. I was taking it laying down without realizing I was even in a fight.

By recognizing the many faces of resistance, I’m able to square up and take back my creative freedom. Earn my inspiration. Rein in my wondering attention and focus on what truly makes me burn up inside.

I was fighting resistance before I knew what it was called.

Now I know its name, and I’m emancipating from it more and more every day.

2. Professionals do their work

They don’t talk in circles about thei work, they get it done.

Discussion and theories are fine as long as they’re backed up with action. The professional doesn’t let resistance boss them around. They act, and they create, no matter what the world is saying.

I liked how Pressfield reminded us that we’re professionals at our clock-in-clock-out jobs; we show up, we do our work, and we get things done because we’re paid to do so.

By applying the professional mindset to your personal work, you land an uppercut to resistance and gain traction in the projects no one is paying you for.

When you do your work despite the onslaught of life, you unlock the door to becoming a professional.

They don’t shy from asking for help. There’s no shame in not being great at everything. Everyone needs a helping hand now and again, no matter their profession.  

3. The Muse is not amused by your excuse

The “Muse” or whatever you deem your inspiration and motivation, is the force that compels you to write, or paint, or create in any manner.

It doesn’t accept excuses, and it won’t be bothered with empty promises.

I’ve never labeled my muse or ever given it much thought if I’m honest. The concept always seemed conceited or overblown to me.

After reading Pressfield’s take on it, I think I understand it better.

It’s not so much a mythological being that coldly watches you struggle, it’s more of an encouragement. A cheerleader in your corner who wants to see you succeed in whatever way you’re meant to.

Where resistance is a detractor and enthraller of false gratification, the Muse is the opposite force. The one who picks you up and cheers you on, the one who is brutally honest with you and doesn’t take any of your bullshit.

Basically, Satan and Jesus. Those are the starkest parallels I can draw between the two forces he speaks of in The War of Art. He makes the same connection in a few different ways.

I’m not one to think anyone would take notice of whether I’m creating or not, let alone Jesus and the devil.

But in the system Pressfield illustrates, they do.

In that framework, it means Satan would love it if I gave up, that he would revel in my defeat. That makes me want to work even harder to succeed and see what it is he wants to stop me from doing.

To sum it up

I thoroughly enjoyed the conviction and motivation The War of Art delivered. It made me want to build castles and run races and climb mountains.

Or, more accurately, it made me realize nothing was stopping me from doing those things, to begin with. Metaphorically speaking, that is; I am in no shape to climb an actual mountain, though that would be awesome.

Stand up to resistance and fight shoulder to shoulder with your Muse, armed with purpose and persistence.

Create in whatever way you can.

You can get a copy of your own here.

2 thoughts on “My top 3 takeaways from The War of Art”

  1. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website
    yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz respond as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to know where u got this from.
    appreciate it

    1. Heather Drabant

      Thank you! I did most of the design myself within the Glam theme from Genesis. Someone helped me set up the domain name and put the coding together.

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top