Book Notes: The War of Art (Steven Pressfield)

I read this book in May 2017 as part of Tara Newman’s The Bold Leadership Revolution virtual book club.

The following notes were posted originally in the Facebook group related to the above.

============================

theWARofART - Simon's Notes #1

WHAT I DO

• people have superstitions and rituals when/how they do things
  • SF: wondering whether my need for formatting in MS Office products is a resistance issue?
  • SF: may be I just need to sort the templates out!
• good reminder in passing of backing things up and having a copy off-site!
• just do it, write (paint etc), put the hours in
• SF: reminded of Seth Godin saying do plumbers get plumber's block? !!
• defo need to switch off notifications on all devices!

WHAT I KNOW

• yes, small things get in the way
• I do need to be in the right feeling before I start
• I need to write etc even when I do not want to

THE UNLIVED LIFE

• what is my unlived life?
• is it just super duper productivity or is it on all fronts?
• reminded of new year resolutions that fail miserably
• reminded to get into good habits (see Duhigg book)
• John Lee Hooker's Boogie Chillen
  • it has got to come out!
• genius means inner spirit, holy, inviolable, watches over us, guides us to our calling; this is our soul's seat, holds our being-in-potential
• reminded me of multi-potentialites talk (again!)
• the battle
• don't wait for crisis to trigger you off is my take
• and remember in some cases even after crisis people do not engage
• take the 1st step
• do I know my calling - this is why I am doing the Designing Your Life book club
• what is blocking me? taking time to sort it out to get that clarity (see DYL above)

BOOK ONE: RESISTANCE: DEFINING THE ENEMY

• elicit:  evoke or draw out (a reaction, answer, or fact) from someone.
• what elicits resistance?
  • anything (!!) with long term consequences, creating something new, positive

Resistance is:

1. invisible
   1. can be felt but none of the other senses "get it"
   2. cf negative shoves
2. internal
   1. self-generated, self-perpetuated]
   2. the enemy within
   3. cf fifth column
      1. A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or nation. The activities of a fifth column can be overt or clandestine. Forces gathered in secret can mobilize openly to assist an external attack. This term is also extended to organized actions by military personnel. Clandestine fifth column activities can involve acts of sabotage, disinformation, or espionage executed within defense lines by secret sympathizers with an external force. (from Wikipedia)
3. insidious: proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects.
   1. it does anything to get you not to start
   2. always lies
4. implacable: unable to be appeased or placated; unable to be stopped; relentless
5. impersonal
6. infallible
   1. will most operate where you most need to perform
   2. resistance intensifies the more important something is to us
7. universal
   1. in one sense this is encouraging, it is not just me!
8. never sleeps
9. plays for keeps
   1. aims to kill, not a game
10. fuelled by fear
    1. its strength comes for us, we need to choke it off
    2. master that fear
11. only opposes in one direction
    1. won't operate to bring you to a lower purpose (wow!)
12. is most powerful at the finish line
    1. reminded me of powering through to completion or in my terms "project close"]
    2. "nail" it!
13. recruits allies
    1. this is not just in our head
    2. resistance recruits people around us to head us off, get in the way, criticise etc

In summary, we have a formidable opponent:

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.

====

theWARofART - Simon's Notes #2

Symptoms of the Resistance

1. Procrastination
   1. The most common because easiest to rationalise
   2. can become a habit
   3. you can halt it now by starting!
   4. SF: this is a key one for me! stop thinking of small things to do 1st, do chores when they are needing to be done at the time, do NOT stack them up! an increasing issue is where to post the same content and how to flex it for the platform, becoming a reason for not doing it!
2. sex
   1. obsessive preoccupation due to instant gratification
   2. check how empty you feel after (if you do!)
   3. applies to all other unhealthy etc habits
3. trouble
   1. things that draw attention to ourselves
4. self-dramatisation
   1. creating soap opera in our lives
   2. cf evil twin to Santa visting every house
5. self-medication
   1. taking drugs to address illusory illness
6. victimhood
   1. a cross to bear
   2. serial conditions
   3. casting yourself as victim is antithesis of doing your work
   4. SF: strong sense that I do 3 in relation to life planning - this is my current work to sort out
7. choice of a mate
   1. often people choose a mate who has conquered the resistance
   2. use them as a model or OK for them to live an unfulfilled life
8. this book
   1. resistance nearly killed me writing this book
9. unhappiness
   1. we feel like hell, guilt
   2. SF: re life planning, I don't feel like hell but is increasingly eating away at me, I still put it off
   3. as artists and pros, our obligation is to enact our own internal revolution and provate insurrection inside our own heads
10. fundamentalism
    1. who am I, why am I here
    2. SF: did a piece on me re 1 recently as part of the WOL circle
    3. we are wired tribally but how to be alone, how to be free individuals
    4. the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his/her own self-mastery
11. criticism
    1. criticising others often due to resistance
    2. those who have conquered resistance always never criticse others
    3. SF: interesting comment, warning to me when I do! My original note was "WOW! That's a draw"
    4. if they speak, it is only encouragement
    5. it hurts others!
12. self-doubt
    1. can be ally, can be indicator of aspiration
    2. SF: lots of this, but starting! good re aspiration!
    3. counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident
13. fear
    1. paralysis is a good sign
    2. the more scared, the more sure we have to do it!
    3. SF: loving the counter-intuitiveness of lots of this, encouraging!
14. love
    1. the greater the resistance, the greater the love you have for your project
    2. opposite of love in this context is indifference
    3. and therefore the greater the gratification when you finally do it
15. being a star
    1. symptom is grandiose fantasies
    2. pro has learned that success takes work
    3. SF: see Gary V video "Document, Not Create"
16. isolation
    1. we baulk at starting through fear of being alone
    2. starting brings courage
    3. hours fly by
    4. SF: love it when that happens, rare! needs to happen more! still to do Deep Work book
17. isolation - part 2
    1. you are not alone, you have your project
    2. characters in your book etc become more important that real life
    3. SF: I get the same with people online who I work/relate with!
    4. there are always characters even if just the reader, poet, artist etc
18. healing
    1. don't wait to get healed to start
    2. the part you create from is bulletproof
    3. self-sovereignty is the best way of healing
    4. SF: may be I am waiting to be perfect to  start! Gary V helps here re document how you are working etc now
19. rationalisation
    1. explaining resistance away
    2. SF: yes there is a danger that now I know more about resistance I could use that as an excuse
20. rationalisation part 2
    1. does not show us our fear but plausible justifcation for why we should not do our work
    2. some rationalisations are true!
21. can be beaten
    1. giving birth seems impossible but has been happening for 50 million years

===========

#theWARofART - Simon's Notes #3

Book Two: Controlling Resistance, Turning Pro

"It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior’s life. "

(Telamon of Arcadia, mercenary of the fifth century B.C.)

Amateurs vs Pros:-

1. plays for fun vs for keeps
2. avocation (a hobby or minor occupation) vs vocation (a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation)
   1. SF: 1st time heard this word!
3. part-time vs full-time
4. weekend warrior vs 7 days/week
   1. SF: that is a challenge, when do my "hobbies" become more than that and replace paid employment with their own revenue ...

Resistance hates it when we turn pro

starting work sets in train infallible sequence of events that produces inspiration

a writer's day:-

• get rid of chores quickly

principle of priority:-

• know difference between urgent and important
• do what is important first
  • SF: cf Covey time 2x2 matrix

go in for the kill

repeat each day

how to be miserable to get through it:-

• isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, humiliation

this is war, baby! war is hell

SF: reminded of the Tom Robinson tune

professionals already vs amateurs:-

• we are all pros in our jobs
• salary, work for money, we are pros

qualities that define us as professionals:-

1. we show up every day
2. we show up no matter what
3. we stay on the job all day
4. we are committed over long term
5. high/ real stakes (survival)
6. we accept remuneration for our work
7. we do not over-identify with our jobs
8. we master the techniques of our jobs
9. we have sense of humour about our job
10. we receive praise/ blame/ in real world

consider the amateur (aspiring/ wannabee), all the above are not applicable

the amateur has not mastered the technique of his/her art nor expose himself/herself to judgement in real world

nothing as empowering as real world validation even if for failure

pros have failures!

Love of the Game:

pro, tho accepting money, does work out of love, has to love it else would not devote life to it from own free will

too much love is a bad thing

be detached

need to do the work every day

if an infantry soldier taking ground every day

technically pro takes money, plays for pay but in the end has to do it for love

Aspects of being a Professional:-

1. patient 
   1. eg against a short deadline
   2. understands delayed gratification
   3. prepares for the long haul
2. seeks order
   1. does not tolerate disorder - SF: this is so me!
   2. eliminates chaos to banish it from mind
3. demystifies
   1. views work as craft not art
   2. concentrates on technique
   3. masters how and leaves what/why to the gods
   4. pro does not talk about mystery, just does the work
4. acts in face of fear
   1. amateur must 1st overcome fear then do the work
   2. pro knows fear can never be overcome
5. accepts no excuses
   1. does not cave in to anything
   2. does not give resistance an inch
   3. SF: increasing realisation that drudge at work could be done speedily but in sucking me down is prevenying me from getting on to the higher-value, exciting stuff
6. plays as it lays
   1. does not make excuses, no level ground
7. is prepared
   1. ... to confront his/her own self-sabotage
8. does not show off
   1. ... but there is a time and a place for this
   2. SF: wondering if I do this? I try not to! is my sharing of links OTT or self-justifying?
   3. it is OK to have your personal style
9. dedicates him/herself to mastering technique
   1. learns from those who have gone before
   2. does not think he is superior to pasy
   3. believes technique is not a sub for inspiration but needs full arsenal
   4. SF: cf PKM work, I have been using "panoply" a lot in recent days out of the blue: "an extensive or impressive collection"
   5. learn the techniques and inspiration will come
10. does not hesitate to ask for help
    1. SF: I love learning from experts and you can do via YT vids
11. distances him/herself from the instrument
    1. SF: reminding me of Jocko Willink (a fave podcast) taking about being detached when assessing situations, seeing everything even own performance objectively
12. does not take failure/success personally
    1. doing so reinforces resistance
    2. do need to leave everything on the field
13. endures adversity
    1. your core is bulletproof
    2. bettter to be in arena than in stands or in parking lot
14. self-validates
    1. controls reactions, governs his/her emotions
    2. SF; road rage etc comes to mind, other loss of self-control, emotional responses
    3. maintain your sovereignty over the moment
    4. cannot allow actions of others to define your reality
    5. recognises their limitations
       1. brings in specialists when needed, treats them with respect
15. reinvents him/herself
    1. does not become one person
    2. SF: really helpful in relation to the Designing Your Life book that I am currently reading
16. recognised by other professionals
    1. a pro senses who has/has not served their time

You, Inc!

• means I can hire/fire myself
• separate entities
• business plan for week drives their to do list for the week
• gives healthy distance on ourselves
• so less subjective
• this is being a pro

A Critter That Keeps Coming

• this is the essence of professionalism - a focus on work and its demands while we are doing it to the exclusion of all else

There is no mystery in turning pro - it is a decision brought about by an act of the will

=========================

theWARofART - Simon's Notes #4

Book 3 - Beyond Resistance - The Higher Realm

SF: re Xenophon query, I defo empathise for praying for creativity

forces that support/ sustain us

resistance can be seen as personal and impersonal

forces that are our allies in the fight against the enemy (resistance)

professionalism featured heavily earlier because the most important thing about art is to work

our dedication is noted

Invoking the Muse

SF: wondering what my invocation would be; probably subtly different for church stuff vs work stuff

classic line, when you finish something, start the next one today!

Muses inspire artists, each Muse responsible for a different art

Testament of a Visionary

the timeless communicating to the timebound

at the outset show respect to this unseen Power who can make or break me

The Magic of:-

• Making a Start
  • “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.” (Goethe)
• Keeping Going
  • self-correcting things without us consciously trying
  • artists are not unique for this

Life and Death

imminence of death focuses mind on the real priorities, ass assumptions called into question

angels make their home in the Self (wishes to create/ evolve) while Resistance has its seat in the Ego (likes things just the way they are)

Ego believes:-

• death is real
• time and space are real
• every individual is different and separate from every other
• predominant impulse of life is self-preservation
• there is no God

Self believes:-

• death us an illusion
• time and space are illusions
• all beings are one
  • if I hurt you, I hurt myself
• the supreme emotion is love
  • all in this together
• God is all there is

Experiencing The Self

we demolish the ego to get to the self

dreams/ ideas come from the self, meditation accesses the self

the self is our deepest being, united to God

the self speaks for the future

instinct pulling us towards art is impulse to evolve/ learn/ heighten/ elevate our consciousness; Ego hates this, the more awake we become, the less we need the Ego

Fear

so many kinds:-

• consequences of following our heart
• bankruptcy
• poverty
• insolvency
• grovelling trying to make it on our own
• grovelling when we crawl back to where we started
• being selfish
• being rotten partners
• failing to support family
• sacrificing their dreams for ours
• betraying our race, 'hood, homies
• failure
• being ridiculous
• throwing away our education, training, preparation that those we love have sacrificed for and that we have worked for
• launching into void
• hurtling too far out there
• passing some point of no return
• madness
• insanity
• death
• etc

these are serious fears but not the master fear: fear that we will succeed

fear that we can access the powers we secretly know we possess

fear that we can become the person we sense in our hearts we truly are

fear of discovering that we are more than we think we are

reaching our Promised Land and being cut off from all we have known

but friends in this new place are better than the ones before ...

The Authentic Self

all of us are born as unique individuals with a distinct/ unique personality

we are not born with unlimited choices

we cannot be anything we want to be

SF: really? making me think!

we have a specific calling/ destiny

find out who we already are and become it

SF: cf Designing Your Life, not sure that book would agree with this

Territory Versus Hierarchy

hierarchy seems to be the default setting, we know our own place

later in life, after knocks, we start exploring the territorial alternative

as numbers increase, hierarchy starts overwhelming, we become anonymous

The Artist and Hierarchy

fatal for artist to define him/herself hierarchically:-

• competes to get above others and keep others beneath
• assess happiness by position
• relate to others based on their position to exclusion of all other factors
• assess every move solely on effect it produces on others

artist must operate territorially, do his/her work for its own sake

In the hierarchy, the artist faces outward; meeting someone new he asks himself, What can this person do for me? How can this person advance my standing

SF: this is the reverse of WOL

must look within!

The Definition of a Hack

via Robert McKee, hack is writer who second guesses audience, asks what market is looking for rather than looking for what is in his own heart

condescends to audience, thinking he is superior

truth is he is scared of being authentic in front of them, writing what he really believes/ thinks

fear of not selling

ie writes hierarchically

The Territorial Orientation

qualities of a territory:-

• provides sustenance
• sustains us without any external input
• can only be claimed alone
• can only be claimed by work
• returns exactly what you put in

what's your territory?

SF: this really resonated, what content do I need to write? where do I go next in my career?

The Artist and the Territory

creation is by definition territorial; no one can help you, you do not need help

what do I feel growing inside of me?

bring it forth for its own sake, not for what it can do for me or how it can advance my standing

Difference between Territory and Hierarchy

• if I was feeling anxious what would I do?
  • if ring friends for reassurance = hierarchy
• of any activity you do, if I were the last person on earth, would I still do it?
  • if yes = territorial

The Supreme Virtue

Leonidas said  contempt for death

for artists, it is contempt for failure

concentrate on own thoughts and action and do the work

The Fruits of our Labour

do our work for its own sake

3rd option is to do the work and do it as an offering to God

this is as true to reality as it gets

Portrait of the Artist

an artist must be a warrior, and like all warriors, artists over time acquire modesty/ humility as facilitators

SF: certainly feeling this with all the online work I have been doing over the past year

The Artist's Life

if you were called to be an artist of any sort, the final question can only be answered by action, do it or do not do it ...

if you were meant to do something big and you do not do it, you "hurt" other people ...

SF: what does the world lose or not get if I do not do what I should do? ....

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.