January 4th, no 5th ok 6th maybe, yes, definitely the 7th…
It is amazing how I can procrastinate for four days when writing an blog entry on procrastination. Since my last post on December 8th I have been diligently avoiding writing my next post, not consciously necessarily but not sub consciously either. Simply stated, I have been at battle with the part of myself that wants to destroy all my dreams and keep me isolated by the silent complaining from inside my head. A chorus of what I should be doing, what I think about doing and what would be great about life if I would only do X.
How do we go from being super excited about doing something new, different, better or that we dream of, to not starting it at all. Or worse yet only getting about 3 days to three weeks down the road with our new great thing before we let our lives take over, crushing all that forward momentum. Possibly you may resemble that remark? I believe you may have an inkling of what I am talking about?
Don’t get me wrong I “look” like one of those people who knows how to get things done and actually I am. However, it may take me up to a year or two to launch an idea with real enough consistency that makes it to the reality stage.
Do you have things that when you think about them you get this expanding feeling in your body and a fire in your belly? It is undeniable that you want to start doing these things that excite you but it has been weeks, months or even years and you have only gotten it going a wee bit or not at all? So here is my story and my solution that just happened to come my way.
As I blog this now there it is the fire in my belly and the expansion in the body about blogging. Yes, actually there it is again, I feel it right now. Why then has a month passed before writing a second post?
Fear and self-doubt.
Yep, I do not think I am able to write well. Actually, it’s not the idea’s or story part, it’s the grammar part of writing that I suck at. Since I have a deep fear of looking foolish and I really never bothered to learn grammar (what, I never planned on writing, I was going to be a dolphin trainer) I am terrified of being criticized. Hiring someone to edit all my posts at this stage is unrealistic so there my next post sits endlessly not being posted. Now, after this great book I read, I realize that fear and doubt is not the big problem. It is only a symptom of the big culprit, that is RESISTANCE.
Here is the big news flash! I have taken the bull by the horns and I am tackling my resistance and procrastination full force. It started with my purchasing a book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
If you have things that you would love to start to do or even better yet start to finish to do in your life, then RUN DON’T WALK to get this book. I cannot speak more highly of it and the beautiful butt kicking it gave me. I cried as I read it. I finally found that special someone who could walk into my head and write down all the silly thoughts that my mind tells me to keep me from living from that fire in the belly.
This list is taken from the book itself. Read it and see if you fit in any of the categories. If you desire to do any of the following:
- Pursue any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, for fun or profit.
- Desire to launch any entrepreneurial venture.
- Any diet or health regimen.
- Any program of spiritual advancement.
- Any activity whose aim is tighter abdominal area.
- Any course or program designed to over come an unwholesome habit or addiction.
- Education of any kind.
- Any act of political, moral, or ethical courage, including the decision to change for the better some unworthy pattern of thought or conduct in yourself.
- The undertaking of any enterprise or endeavor whose aim is to help others.
- Any act that entails commitment of the heart. The decision to get married, to have a child, to weather a rocky patch in a relationship.
- The taking of any principled stand in the face of adversity.
Then this is the book for you. Truly, Steven outlines the war inside of our beings that is stopping us from being in our talent, our genius and he gives you the insights and steps to get started.
Sometimes you just gotta leave the resistance behind
This one book has gotten me blogging. So what is the big war we all have everyday with doing what we love, being who we want to be and creating a life of our dreams has an actual enemy you can face and crush. It’s name is RESISTANCE. That nasty little voice inside your head is more than just us being hard on ourselves it is, Resistance, a trickster, an uncaring energy that will zap you again and again if you let it. If you are going to become the dream of you that you can feel in your soul then you must know the enemy and Steven does a lovely job of giving you the lay of the land. He gives you your weapons so you can move past resistance to persistence.
The best part is it is an easy read. Took me about 3 hours but the difference has been huge.
Now, I will get back to my regularly scheduled blogging in progress.
See you in the next couple of days!
Love it! Thank you for this blog Zen and sharing this book. Going back to your symptom about being criticized for possible grammar errors;(does a ; go here–oh well it does now)I once heard an interview with Wayne Dyer where he touched on this subject. Some person pointed out a grammar problem in one of his books and he said that it was his book and his story so he could write it any way he pleased. Right?! Just think of Dr. Seuss who made up words but created such fun & passion in his work. I love your blogs and I read between the lines and in the spaces because that is where I see, hear & feel your joy and passion–wow I used a lot of ands in that sentence!!! Can’t wait to read the book! Thank you for being real and for being you. By the way, I graduated with a Minor in English and my grammar is pleasantly sucky.