Resistance, Professionalism & Power

In my view, systems are what separate the hobbyists from professionals. This week’s newsletter is dedicated to people who feel unable and afraid to sit and create their work. Whether you’re a writer, painter or filmmaker - a good system allows you to turn up and do your best. Let’s break it down into 3 frameworks I learned from the best book I’ve read on this subject - Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.

Resistance

Resistance is an ever-present feeling that never goes away, it sits somewhere between anxiety, fear & procrastination. It creeps in at the beginning of anything remotely difficult, it stops you from doing the task you know you have to do, it limits your creative execution, it gives you valid excuses, it manifests fear into every aspiration you have. Resistance is the enemy of the creator.

When you feel resistance it feels natural to listen to it, after all, we’re wired to follow our gut instincts in the face of danger & discomfort. Our great ancestors learned to follow this instinct, because it could mean the difference between life or death in the wild. But the modern day is much different, and our instincts haven’t yet adapted to the dangers of modern civilisation, or lack there of.

To combat resistance, one must confront it, comprehend it, and experience it - and ultimately disregard it. To conquer resistance, one must first acknowledge that it is a natural part of life. We are instinctively inclined to avoid challenging situations, and our minds often remind us whenever we dare to excel and deviate from the norm. Your lifelong task is to realise that this feeling never truly dissipates, yet still find the determination to persist in pursuing your goals.

To overcome resistance, I have a simple system that I like to use. In advance, when I know I have important work or tasks that require my attention, I schedule dedicated time for them in my calendar. Once scheduled, I remind myself that regardless of the size, complexity, or intimidation of the task, all I need to do is sit down and start. It doesn't matter how poorly I perform, how distracted or unmotivated I am, or how tired or insecure I feel in that moment. The only goal is to begin and work on the task for the assigned time block. Before you know it, your mind forgets about those fears, and resistance fades away.

I experience resistance every time I wake up to exercise, write, or record a video. This process of showing up is the secret power that you can learn to embrace. It demonstrates that discipline overcomes motivation.

Professionalism

Professionals are able to separate their work from their personal identity. They view themselves and their work as part of a larger enterprise, which allows them to handle criticism, humiliation, or setbacks more effectively.

Professionals adhere to a schedule and understand that consistency is more important than immediate output. For example, a professional might commit to writing for an hour every morning at 9 am. They also invest time in honing their skills, refining their understanding of their craft, industry, and their own position within it.

Becoming a professional requires a mindset shift and a change in self-perception. While it's acceptable to approach work as a hobbyist, working on it only when the mood strikes or abandoning it for more enticing opportunities, valuing the importance and impact of your work in the world gives you the agency to pursue professionalism.

Power

"When we sit down and do our work every day, power concentrates around us." - Steven Pressfield.

You’ve felt it before, you’ve been avoiding your project for a long time and it’s been playing on your mind like a broken record. This kind of procrastination-induced stress becomes a parasite of the subconscious mind. When you finally gather the courage to start the work, it's as if psychological burden is lifted. Ideas, energy, and connections begin to pour out of you, and you feel a strong connection to the work you’re doing - as if the connection was always there, just waiting for you to make the move. Some call it flow, others call it the muse, I call it power.

What you can take away from this is that the work you’re resisting is the answer to all your problems, or at least, to all your creative problems.

The main takeaway from this newsletter is that your best work is waiting for you, should you have the courage to take it. Your muse is not waiting for the stars to align to make itself visible, by simply showing up with bravery, you’ve already done most of the work - so show up and have the courage to create.