“Use every tool at your disposal to resist the Resistance, push through the trouble, climb the mountains and get the work done.”- Tom Eggebrecht
In Chapter 14 (“Resist the Resistance”) of Fully and Creatively Alive, Tom Eggebrecht recommends reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Writing in The War of Art, Pressfield puts his finger on the number one enemy of creativity – Resistance. As a result, Pressfield raises several questions that help you identify Resistance in your life. Too often the Resistance looks like us:
“Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn’t write, a painter who doesn’t paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what Resistance is.”
Therefore, Tom notes, Resistance attempts to accomplish several agenda items. First, it attempts to get in the way. You find yourself at an impasse. Then, Resistance throws everything in your path to keep you from realizing your goal. Hence, to be fully and creatively alive, Tom offers the following advice. Start your day by determining where you want to finish at the end of your day. Then, go get there. Never let the big “R” beat you! When you start with the last, the first becomes easy to determine.
Most noteworthy, Jesus lived with His end in sight. This began from the manger. Therefore, Jesus stays the course. Perfectionism stalls our efforts. Time wasters threaten to distract us. Yet, He steadies us. In conclusion, Tom exhorts:
“He [Jesus] promises to be with you always, even in seeming minutiae. . . . to help you plow through, keep going, and overcome the voices that would over take. He wants what’s best for you. And what is often best for you is to follow through all the way to the end . . . to do what needs to be done for your own good, for the good of others, and for the good of the kingdom.”
Today’s question (from Tom): What is the one thing in your life that delivers the most Resistance? How can you eliminate it? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: ” Let your dreams grow”
