The War of Art

A Journey to Creating

I’ve spent thousands of hours waring with words, attempting to craft something that cuts through the ever-increasing Amazonian underbrush that’s become our culture. I’ve also spent hundreds of hours on television and movie sets. I’ve been in writing rooms and acting classes. Additionally, I’ve invested thousands of hours reading craft books on how to write and taking classes on creativity.

Have I created anything that’s made a smidge of difference in life? Who knows and who cares? The attempt is all I can make, and it’s all I’m responsible for. It is my at-bat that I’m focused on.

It’s long overdue that I share the one resource that has helped me more than any other on my journey to creating. I don’t know the author of this work, but I’ve recommended his work to hundreds, and I’ve gifted his book more than any other book.

Why? Because it has done so much to help me along my journey. There have been countless days when I’ve been discouraged and wanted to quit writing. In part, I owe my never quitting to the words from this book. They’ve helped me march on.

A quote from Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.

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

This quote was true of my life up until about seven years ago. I was living a life blurred by efficiency and capitalism and keeping up with Mr. and Mrs. Jones, whoever they are.

There was something inside me, something aching to get out, saying, ‘There’s more to life than a paycheck and a nice car buddy.’ The nagging voice turned out to be the unlived life I’d locked away for more than three decades.

For most of my life I’d lived in a mold society had prepared for me, some strange idea of the American way: go to school, then college, work 50 years, retire. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing with that idea. There was just something inside ME, saying, ‘You’re missing something.’

Pressfield’s book, The War of Art, spoke to the void in me, the unlived self, it said this,

The artist and the fundamentalist both confront . . . the mystery of their existence as individuals. Each asks the same questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life?

Has something inside you asked similar questions? If so, I encourage you to keep reading this.

Sometimes life is like driving through fog. We can only see what’s directly in front of us, the next few months or so.

To get a better understanding of life and to see further, we have to do some exploring. We have to ask big questions—like the questions above—so we can see where our life is heading and make directional changes if needed. The questions help cut through the fog and give us a clearer vision of our future.

Do YOU feel like something is missing? Have you ever wanted to start a non-profit, become a painter, join a movement, write a novel, or express yourself in any other form?

If so, what’s stopped you? Let me help you uncover the answer to that question then make a recommendation. The THING that has stopped you is some form of self-sabotage or some combination of external forces along with it.

You’ve told yourself: no one wants to read my story, my voice isn’t that great, or I’ve never started anything, so how could I now?

Sound familiar?

I’ve told myself the same self-sabotaging statements. The War of Art, has helped me create a louder voice, one that I trust that nudges me along through the dark times when I feel like throwing my hands up and quitting. And, it can help you too.

I hope this writing encourages you and that this tool helps you along your journey to creating as it has done for me and millions of other creators.

P.S. Again, I don’t know the author of this book, and I don’t get paid if you buy a copy. I wrote this for you, only to help spur you along on your creative journey.

This book has done so much for me and many others, I wanted to pass the recommendation along. I hope that something I’ve said helps you tap into your unlived life.

P.S.S. Here is a copy of mine. I’ve read it at least five times, but I also own the audiobook, and I’ve listened to it at least 40 times. When I get discouraged, I put it on during a long walk. It helps me reset my thinking and get back to The War of Art.

Here’s to your creative journey. Sending love and best wishes your way.