Resistance is the enemy, lesson from a book I read.

There is an abundance of motivational content, but not enough motivation.

In today’s content-rich world, finding motivational content is easy. Yet, despite consuming vast amounts of inspiring content, I often find myself procrastinating on projects or ideas. Why does motivation fade so quickly? The answer came from an unexpected place, and it changed how I think about putting things off.

I read Steven Pressfield’s book “The War of Art” last year (Not the Art of War). This book goes into great detail about the idea of Resistance (with a capital “R”), as Pressfield stresses. Resistance, in his words, is an invisible force that stops you just as you’re about to start something new, like writing the first line on a blank page, making a podcast, or learning an instrument. That voice inside your head that tells you you’re too young, too old, not smart enough, or even too skilled. When I noticed resistance, it was a turning point for me. I soon realised that starting my blog was like fighting Resistance, but here I am, writing my second post, with many more to come.

Steven Pressfield's War of Art from Amazon

The good news is that everyone feels this way, and there is a way to get over it! I highly recommend the book. In the meantime, here are a few actions I do every day that help me get past resistance:

1. Recognise resistance: To beat Resistance, you must first admit that it exists. In secret, this sneaky enemy does best, but when exposed, they lose power. When you want to put something off, call it what it is and deal with it straight on. “I see you, Resistance, but you won’t win today,” tell yourself.

2. Establish a routine: Set up a daily routine that gets you ready for the tasks ahead to fight resistance. Form habits that help you face tasks with determination, no matter what the mood is or the situation. For example, start your day at 8 AM or do a review every night.

3. Embrace challenges: Like a sparring partner in boxing, think of pushback as an important part of your personal growth. Instead of seeing it as something that will get in the way, see it as a chance to grow. Face your problems head-on and see them as chances to get stronger.

4. Prioritise delivery: Get over perfectionism’s paralysis by putting performance ahead of perfection. Focus on finishing jobs instead of making them better and better all the time. Remember that a project that is finished, flaws and all, is better than a beautiful one that is unfinished. Making it a habit to meet goals and being responsible for getting consistent results is important.

I hope this was helpful to you. If you’re intrigued by the concepts discussed, consider picking up a copy of the book for further inspiration and guidance. Have fun reading !