Life Lessons From The War of Art That Will Change Your Life

Life is chock full of both good and bad experiences. But, when times are hard, it’s, unfortunately, a natural reaction to revert into yourself as you take on the blows that life has dealt you. However, with that said, there is one simple truth that I’ve tried to stand by over the years. Instead of hiding away from the world during the tough times, always take a second to reflect on what got you to that position in the first place. 

Whether you’ve made a mistake, or something has happened that you couldn’t control, you should try to be grateful all the same. When you experience these setbacks in life, it means you’ve actively made a decision to put yourself on the line – whether that’s emotionally, financially, or physically.

Believe me, you’ll sleep much better at night in the knowledge that you’ve made the decision to actively participate in life rather than watch from the sidelines as others achieve their calling. This is something that I learned early on in my entrepreneurial career from a little book called “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” by Steven Pressfield. 

The author explains that the modern professional should never be under any illusion that achieving your potential is full of challenges, inequality, hardship, and lucky breaks (both good and bad). 

The book is divided into three sections; the first introduces and describes the force that keeps us from achieving our calling “Resistance”; the second teaches us how to combat this invisible foe, and the third teaches us how to move past Resistance. 

Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned from keeping this book close to hand.

1. Embrace Fear

Resistance feeds on fear. We all feel fear in the face of resistance, but so many of us just aren’t able to conquer it. Pressfield writes that fear is actually a pivotal moment in our journey; in other words, you either continue along the path you’re on, or you turn around and head for home. The more fearful you are of something, the more it means to you, and the more it has the potential to change your life. 

By conquering these fears, the better and stronger you become. For example, back in 2016, an interviewer for The Verge asked the actor Tom Hiddleston why he had taken on the role of legendary country music star Hank Williams, he replied: “because it scared me.” 

In most cases, the more significant a risk you take, the bigger the reward. In fact, the only real risk in life is being too afraid to take any at all. 

“Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” ― Steven Pressfield

2. Live Your Best Life

Most of us lead two parallel lives: the one that we live now, and the one which we are too afraid to reach out and grasp for. 

This could apply to just about any walk of life; for example, perhaps are you a budding entrepreneur crippled by fear of failure? A novelist afraid of the blank sheet of paper, or an artist who can’t pick up the brush? If you can see a life on the other side of the tracks, which you’re too afraid to live then you’re suffering from the pushback of Resistance. 

Can you imagine how different our lives would be if Richard Branson hadn’t taken a leap of faith; if J.K Rowling had been too afraid to sit down and write, or if Picasso couldn’t bring himself to pick up his brushes?  

3. There’s No Room For Amateurs 

For one to be successful, you should approach your work in the way any professional would. This includes being punctual, dedicated, committed, and conscientious, while at the same time mastering your skills and humbly accepting the compensation received for the work. 

Professionals should always strive to maintain a healthy disconnect between themselves and their chosen vocation. This means not taking yourself too seriously and learning to work well with others. Whatever it is you choose to do, by embracing this perspective, you can transform yourself from amateur to professional in no time. 

4. Every Passing Second is a Missed Opportunity to Choose a Different Path

Each passing second that ticks by is another missed opportunity to make the changes you desire to create a happier and more satisfied lifestyle. 

It’s this moment where you must actively beat back Resistance as it holds you back from your important work. If left to run amok, Resistance can manifest itself in the form of negative behaviors, vices, time-wasting activity, and depression and anxiety.

The book aims to train you to recognise when Resistance it’s starting to rear its ugly head so that you can beat it down at the very first opportunity. 

5. Long-Term Activities Equals Resistance

In the book, the author has turned resistance into the antagonist, who’s only goal is to prevent us from experiencing the activities that feed curiosity and stir the soul. Resistance is at its most potent at the beginning of any long-term project that has the potential to change our lives. 

This is when our own fear is turned against us, and as we mentioned in a previous point, fear is the defining moment – will we sink under the weight or swim against the tide? 

As human beings, particularly in this day and age, we’re programmed to look for instant gratification. When we sit down to begin our long-term project, our fear that this gratification is a long way over the horizon is what sets Resistance against us.

Once you’re over that hump and you’re well on your way to your destination, that voice of Resistance begins to fade away.

“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.” ― Steven Pressfield

6. Avoiding Procrastination 

The most potent tool of resistance is procrastination. We are always faced with a decision when posed with a task that we are too afraid to do, but continually avoiding this task will only ever lead to complete evasion. 

When you fall into the trap of procrastinating, you’re reducing your productivity and your ability to achieve your goals promptly. The book teaches us to remind ourselves that procrastination is just another side of Resistance that must be combated at all costs.

Steven Pressfield deliberately takes a stern, direct tone during his teachings in this book. Not only does he pinpoint the real reason why we are not achieving our best life, but he also shows precisely what it is we’re afraid to do. By reading, studying, and applying these simple life lessons, we have all the tools available to turn our lives into that which is both deeply fulfilling and satisfying.