I have a writing project. It’s dear to my heart, central to the advancement and visibility of me and my business, and I have a wonderful time when I’m in the midst of it.

So have I been doing it?

You can guess the answer. One of life’s greatest mysteries is why we don’t do the things we know will bring us the greatest fulfillment, the fastest results, and the most soulful journey. In short, why do we put off creating the things we feel called to create?

Steven Pressfield, author of Bagger Vance, among many other novels, has written a pearl of a non-fiction book, called The War of Art. In it, he calls that which keeps us from carrying out our creativity, “resistance.” He has so many incisive observations and such clear-sighted wisdom about this, I really encourage you to pick it up. It’s a very easy read. Lots of white space. My library has it – maybe yours does, too.

Here are a few of his jewels:

• “There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writer’s don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write. What keeps us from writing is Resistance.”
• “Resistance seems to come from outside ourselves. We locate it in spouses, jobs, bosses, kids. ‘Peripheral opponents,’ as Pat Riley used to say when he coached the Los Angeles Lakers. Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. Resistance is the enemy within.
• “Resistance’s goal is not to wound or disable. Resistance aims to kill. Its target is the epicenter of our being: our genius, our soul, the unique and precious gift we were put on earth to give and that no one else has but us. Resistance means business. When we fight it, we are in a war to the death.”

In the battle against Resistance, much of it comes down to Nike’s great slogan, “just do it.” But Pressfield notes one great benefit Resistance provides:

• “Like a magnetized needle floating on the surface of oil, Resistance will unfailingly point to true North—meaning that calling or action it most wants to stop us from doing. We can use this. We can use it as a compass. We can navigate by Resistance, letting it guide us to that calling or action that we must follow before all others.  Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”

So…Tell me. What’s the one thing you are most afraid to do?

Very important: don’t underestimate Resistance. As Pressfield says:

• “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify; seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is protean. It will assume any form, if that’s what it takes to deceive you. It will reason with you like a lawyer or jam a nine-millimeter in your face like a stick-up man. Resistance has no conscience. It will pledge anything to get a deal, then double-cross you as soon as your back is turned. If you take Resistance at its word, you will deserve everything you get. Resistance is always lying, and always full of sh*t.”

Having an accountability partner, or a coach, is a counter resistance technique non pareil. I know it’s in my interest to say so, since I’m a creativity coach, but it’s the honest-to-God truth. I have accomplished more in the last year, working with both my accountability partner and my coach, than I would have thought possible. Creating is a solitary journey, as is battling Resistance. But having to report on one’s progress gets most people’s butts into action, fast.

If you are ready to seriously commit to writing your blog, your book, or crafting your signature speech, get in touch. The next year will pass whether you do anything or not. The question is, will you reach this time next year and be able to say “I did it!”

I want to be able to say that about my book. I’m terrified, and full of excuses.  I’m here to tell you – from the outside the stoppers look ridiculous. From the inside, they sometimes feel insuperable. Why not take the journey with me. Let’s face the demons, and come out the other side. One day at a time, right? Remember, it’s not the doing that’s hard. It’s the getting to the doing. So just do it!

Okay, so I’m rolling my eyes, too. But I am writing…