Author: Steven Pressfield

Not taking charge of your life can lead you eventually to difficult and unpleasant places. Especially, if we see that we are not moving forward in life. Pressfield talks about how to combat resistance on a daily basis. He talks about fighting this demon in order to get our life moving forward.

“The truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. While those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them.“ Steven Pressfield

Pressfield might exaggerate the way Resistance hijacks our life for the purpose of expanding the concept in the book. Nevertheless, he’s actually right about many things too. For instance, sitting down and start doing work is a task that haunts a lot of people on a daily basis. As he says, sitting down and even if the work is not decent by our standards, but the mere act of sitting down and getting to work might be the most important thing that you can start doing right now. This allows us to gain momentum to move forward and overcome the daily routine that we impose upon ourselves.

Creation might be the most important endeavor that humans can take on. Coming up with something such as a solution, an idea, a product, or anything at all makes us feel good and accomplished. However, besides how one feels after creating something, the act of creation in itself should be ever present in our lives. Creation is the purest manifestation and expression of our ideals and of who we are.

“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” Steven Pressfield

Pressfield mentions that Resistance can take the form of different things. One of those things is fear. Fear might be the greatest destructor of ideals and self-expression. When you are afraid of something, that is a pretty good indicator that you have to complete the activity that is creating this fear. As paralyzing as fear might appear to be, this book serves as a reminder that everything we desire is on the other side where fear lives. Fear won’t go anywhere but learning to embrace it will help tremendously.

Another aspect that the book tackles is work. Putting in the work and actually executing is fundamental to move closer to success. I say move us closer because no amount of work can guarantee success, but the more work we do in the right direction can increase our chances to succeed. It’s like the lottery. If you don’t buy a ticket, your chances are zero. If you buy a ticket, your chances are so small that might appear insignificant, yet there is still a chance of winning.

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 come, whatever they like. Steven Pressfield

Results might come or not, but as professionals we must behave as such and do what we love not for success, fame, or money, but because we feel in ourselves to do it. There might be bills piling up on the table but giving in to a routine which eats up your time and energy for 8+ hours a day might not be the best solution after all.

All in all, one of the most important points that Pressfield is trying to get across is that we might be on this Earth for a purpose much greater than toiling ourselves death. There has to be more to this thing called life. Life should be whatever we want it to be. It doesn’t matter how hard it is to find what we want, but we shouldn’t comform and take anything less than what we dreamed of doing.

Additional Resources:

Steven Pressfield on the Joe Rogan podcast. A very good insight into the author himself.

Another good interview.

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