Preparing for Battle

Anytime we try something new, we have to prepare for a battle. A battle for our mind and willpower.

There's a reason so many people have ideas for businesses but never start them.

There's a reason so many people want to learn a musical instrument, but never stick with it. If they start in the first place.

There's a reason so many people can't stick to a workout routine for more than a couple of weeks.

The reason is this. The Resistance.

The Resistance is a term coined by Steven Pressfield in his book The War of Art. It's more commonly known as the amygdala, or the "lizard brain." The part of your brain that warns you of danger and tells you to run, hide, and fit in as much as you possibly can for your own safety.

The Resistance takes many forms, and it will do anything possible to stop you from succeeding at anything creative or innovative.

The Resistance rationalizes and comes up with excuses not to write, practice, or work out.

The Resistance tells you not to perform in public, because people might not like it. And people not liking you equals danger.

The Resistance calls out with easy, comfortable activities to distract you from the hard, important, meaningful work.

The Resistance is the cause of our procrastination.

The Resistance destroys dreams all the time. Millions of books never written. Paintings never created. Music never composed.

While Steven Pressfield takes a, "we have to destroy the Resistance at all costs" stance on it that some may find a little dramatic, it's a real thing. We forget to take it seriously in our morbidly busy lives.

And it's something our kids have no idea about. But we have to teach them, as well as ourselves. For the fate of humanity.

Every morning is a new battle. The battle to will ourselves to the gym. To the piano. To the word processor. It never goes away.

But if we prepare our mind for the Resistance, then we can handle ourselves accordingly. People handle it in different ways. Reflective writing, meditating, accountability partners, you name it...you're only limited by your imagination.

But you have to start now. If you've procrastinated on any project or art you've wanted to pursue, this is why you haven't started yet.

So...ready to gear up and do battle?