This is a great book Randy discovered and read then passed on to me. I struggle off and on with a sort of creative neurosis (self-imposed of course) and go through phases of creativity and the lack thereof, but am definitely happier when something creative is in the works. The first topic this book addresses is Resistance which the author defines as The Enemy.Resistance's Greatest Hits
- The pursuit of any calling in writing, painting, music, film, dance, or any creative art, however marginal or unconventional.
- The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise.
- Any diet or health regimen.
- Any program of spiritual advancement.
- Any activity whose aim is tighter abdominals.
- Any course or program designed to overcome an unwholesome habit or addiction.
- Education of every 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 ourselves.
- 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.
"In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity. Or, expressed another way, any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any of these will elicit Resistance." page 6
Isn't it great to be able to define it like that? I feel like I've been doing that a bit lately with my thoughts about "considering the source" whenever I try to talk myself out of doing something like going to church, going to the service project, getting up and going walking, etc. This reminds me of that post I wrote about choices and how our days are filled with the little choices that ultimately define us. I don't know why some people seem to have iron will born into their characters, and why others like me just don't. I guess that's one of my trials in life and the iron will people struggle with things that are easier for me (hmmm), I just wish I could get a little bit of that iron into my life.
These thoughts are coming both from a creative standpoint and from a physical one. This morning was day 3 of my early-morning walking with Randy and I must say it was tough. My legs are sore, my body didn't want to wake up at 6:15 this morning, that hill is still huge, and I haven't gone down in size yet so that makes me want to quit. (I should see results after a couple days shouldn't I? If not, that may be why I've never hung in there with any of my health kicks in the past.) But now I feel like I'm approaching everything from a Resistance point of view (that goes along so well with the idea of The Adversary). If someone is always trying to keep me from improving in my life, even when it feels like that someone is myself, then I need to approach all my choices with a more proactive point of view. (Duh!) I need to resist the resistance.
These thoughts are coming both from a creative standpoint and from a physical one. This morning was day 3 of my early-morning walking with Randy and I must say it was tough. My legs are sore, my body didn't want to wake up at 6:15 this morning, that hill is still huge, and I haven't gone down in size yet so that makes me want to quit. (I should see results after a couple days shouldn't I? If not, that may be why I've never hung in there with any of my health kicks in the past.) But now I feel like I'm approaching everything from a Resistance point of view (that goes along so well with the idea of The Adversary). If someone is always trying to keep me from improving in my life, even when it feels like that someone is myself, then I need to approach all my choices with a more proactive point of view. (Duh!) I need to resist the resistance.
**What do you think and how do YOU
overcome the resistance you feel?**
overcome the resistance you feel?**
