Steven Pressfield

Between the two →

Published June 8  ·  All posts on Jun 8  ·  

Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

~ Steven Pressfield, from Writing Wednesdays: The Unlived Life

slip:4usete24.

For me there’s a huge tension between those two. I see so many things that I want to do—and I don’t mean binge-watch TV shows. I imagine something I’d like to write—for example, a weekly, emailed publication for paying subscribers—and the complexity of creating it overwhelms me. The writing is the easy part; Or, am I deluding myself? The only salve I’ve found is to remind myself over and over and over that I consistently overestimate what I can get done in a day, and underestimate what I can get done in a lifetime.

ɕ

Don’t stand in the shade →

Published April 3  ·  All posts on Apr 3  ·  , ,

Remember we employed a visual to help us understand this. We said that the Dream is like a tree in the middle of a sunny meadow. The tree casts a shadow.

~ Steven Pressfield, from Writing Wednesdays: Gotta Do It

slip:4usego2.

I find Pressfield’s metaphor to be striking. The tree in the meadow casts a real shadow. I was struck by the layers in this metaphor: light and darkness, the singular clarity of lone tree in an open space as a symbol of a life’s purpose, the proportional relationship of the larger the tree the larger and darker the shadow, and that one’s ability to avoid or at least escape the shadow is a choice we make.

By extension then, if one attempts to nurture multiple callings, visions or projects, one has multiple big trees. That’s at least a copse of trees whose shadows merge together creating something much more significant to avoid or escape from.

ɕ

The real fear →

Published March 3, 2025  ·  All posts on Mar 3  ·  , ,

These are serious fears. But they’re not the real fear. Not the Master Fear, the Mother of all Fears that’s so close to us that even when we verbalize it we don’t believe it. Fear That We Will Succeed. That we can access the powers we secretly know we possess. That we can become the person we sense in our hearts we truly are.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1527.

Who was listening →

Published February 23, 2025  ·  All posts on Feb 23  ·  

[…] so the Muse whispered in Beethoven’s ear. Maybe she hummed a few bars into a million other ears. But no one else heard her. Only Beethoven got it.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1522.

Professionalism →

Published February 13, 2025  ·  All posts on Feb 13  ·  

The essence of professionalism is the focus upon the work and its demands, while we are doing it, to the exclusion of all else. The ancient Spartans schooled themselves to regard the enemy, any enemy, as nameless and faceless. In other words, they believed that if they did their work, no force on Earth could stand against them.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1517.

Oh crap →

Published February 1, 2025  ·  All posts on Feb 1  ·  ,

The Fourth Rule of the Artist’s Journey is: It’s for life.

~ Steven Pressfield, from The Artist’s Journey Is a Lifetime Engagement

slip:4usete19.

Because that means there’s not going to be an end, so I better get my stuff sorted.

ɕ

Overcoming fear →

Published January 1, 2025  ·  All posts on Jan 1  ·  

The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; Then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1512.

The professional →

Published December 23, 2024  ·  All posts on Dec 23  ·  

In my view, the amateur does not love the game enough. If he did, he would not pursue it as a sideline, distinct from his “real” vocation. The professional loves it so much he dedicates his life to it. He commits full-time. That’s what I mean when I say turning Pro. Resistance hates it when we turn Pro.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1507.

Grandiose fantasies →

Published December 18, 2024  ·  All posts on Dec 18  ·  

Grandiose fantasies are a symptom of Resistance. They’re the sign of an amateur. The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not com, whatever they like.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1502.

Self-realized →

Published December 13, 2024  ·  All posts on Dec 13  ·  

Individuals who are realized in their own lives almost never criticize others. If they speak at all, it is to offer encouragement. Watch yourself. Of all the manifestations of Resistance, most only harm ourselves. Criticism and cruelty harm others as well.

~ Steven Pressfield

slip:4a1497.