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The War of Art by Steven Pressfield


  • Fri 02 April 2021
  • Books

In this unusual non-fiction book, full of metaphors and insights, Steven Pressfield argues that each of us has a specific work to do. It might be writing, painting, starting a business venture, etc. The work can be recognized by the fear it causes in us. The greater the fear, the more important this call or action is for us. This fear feeds the insidious and relentless counter-force -- Resistance. It has many symptoms, such as procrastination and rationalization, and its chief task is to distract us from our work. To defeat Resistance, one needs to become a Professional. That is, unlike an amateur, to devote oneself completely to the work, and do it again and again, despite fear and obstacles. On this path, fortunately, we will be helped by unseen intelligence, invisible forces, that expect us to realize our potential.

This is a thought-provoking book that made me stop and reflect on what exactly my call could be. Also, it's encouraged me to work more on self-initiated activities, like writing this article, for their own sake.

Mindmap

The same mindmap can be seen on XMind gallery.