Steven Pressfield, in "The War of Art," names something we've all felt: Resistance.
It's that force that appears just when you're about to do something important. The voice that says "tomorrow," "you're not ready," "who do you think you are?"
How Resistance manifests
Resistance is cunning. It doesn't always say "don't do it." Sometimes it says:
- "You need to research more first."
- "You should wait for the perfect moment."
- "Someone has already done that."
- "You don't have enough talent/time/resources."
Resistance will tell you anything to prevent you from doing the work. It's a professional liar.
The golden rule
Pressfield offers a compass: the more Resistance you feel toward something, the more important it is to do it.
If you feel a lot of Resistance toward a habit, it's probably the habit you need most.
How to defeat Resistance
1. Recognize it. The first step is knowing it exists.
2. Don't negotiate. Resistance is a brilliant negotiator. Don't argue. Act.
3. Go professional. Professionals don't wait for inspiration. They sit down to work on schedule.
4. Start before you're ready. "I'm not ready" is Resistance's favorite excuse.
Today, identify where Resistance is stopping you. And do it anyway.