“Time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle maneuvers” — Franz Kafka, Novelist
Before I started writing every day, there were all types of reasons (excuses) I would tell — no, convince — myself why I couldn’t. I was essentially working two full jobs, spending my 9 to 5 working at a start-up and working another business in the evening. I was too tired. I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t have any good ideas. And yet it was still bothering me. I was troubled by the fact that I was doing everything I needed to do, but none of the things I wanted to do.
The American novelist Steven Pressfield calls this Resistance. In his book, The War of Art, Resistance is described as the force that will stop us with any means necessary to keep things exactly the way they are. It’s the voice in our heads telling us our work isn’t good enough and that we should even bother with it in the first place. It’s the fear that keeps us from putting our work out there. And it’s the force we must overcome to pursue a creative life.
Everything that can get in the way of your creative work, will get in the way.
There will never be enough time we need. Nor space. Or perhaps you have all the time and space but no ideas.
It doesn’t matter.
No energy? No support? Are you surrounded by negativity and doubt? Is your job keeping you from your dreams? Are you friends and family? No inspiration?
Again, it doesn’t matter. Once you establish a daily habit, you know you’ll do it no matter what. Even if we have to subtly piece it together throughout the day. Or sit down and write while everyone in the house is still sleeping.
A daily habit detoxes us from excuses.
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STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing— Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1880
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