The Book of Tiny Wins
The Book of Tiny Wins
Our story is filled with twists and turns. But we must write it every day.
Some days our story starts great but unexpectedly turns into a struggle. As much as I try to follow my routine, sometimes creativity is a no show.
This week the resistance was strong. It kept me from creating what I have committed to. It started as a whirlwind and turned into a tornado. It sucked the creative air out of the environment. It literally forced me to escape from my chair so I could breathe again.
This sounds dramatic, but it's real. It's an inner battle that few people speak about. I can't say that everyone experiences this, but I can say that many people do.
What Is This Force?
Steven Pressfield wrote a book titled "The War of Art." It is a brilliant spin on "The Art of War."
In his book, Pressfield put a name to what every creator experiences. It’s a force that keeps you from doing the one thing you are born to do. He called that force "The Resistance."
"Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work in potential. It’s a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work." -Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
The Resistance vs Calling Grace
I got up from my chair so I could breathe again. I was beginning to fill up with thoughts of failure.
I took some deep breaths as I escaped down the hall to the kitchen. I got a fizzy drink and sat in a comfy chair.
My mind was still trying to solve the problem. I wrote some thoughts in my journal. Then I fired up Medium (a social writing app) and picked an article to read. The first thing I stumbled on was a well written article by a very experienced creator. He addressed how he deals with inner storms (that he still has). But what really got me was a reader's comment at the bottom of the article:
"I was literally staring at the ceiling, wondering if I should continue pursuing my creative dreams. This really helped, thank you."
How cool is that? We are all connected.
Over and over I have found that The Resistance has a counter force. It's the force of Calling Grace that catches us, shows us we are not alone, and reminds us that our dreams are important, and worth pursuing.
How to Beat the Resistance
Buy Steven Pressfield book "The War of Art," and read it. Or give it to a fellow creator. I read it several years ago and it gave me another tool to help me keep going.
For me, the main thing is to trust in my calling and I keep showing up. I have been writing this newsletter for a year and a half now. I feel like I’m just getting started. I have so much more to learn.
I also budget for the curves. A day is too granular to judge your life or your progress.
Finally, when I the resistance shows up, I have a plan. I switch to task oriented work. Win!
The Book of Tiny Wins
No matter what happens in my day, I try to get a "tiny win." At the end of the year I will have 365 tiny wins. That's enough to create a book of tiny wins.
Dreams are powered by enthusiasm. Stay enthused!
To your success!
What is your dream?
My dream is to write small but powerful books that simplify success, and plant them like seeds.
My first book is "How to Build a Foundation for your Dreams." You can read it FREE at www.jamesonsuccess.com/books.