The Tim Ferriss Show
#501: Steven Pressfield — How to Overcome Self-Sabotage and Resistance, Routines for Little Successes, and The Hero’s Journey vs. The Artist’s Journey
Episode guests
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Quick takeaways
- Implementing routines for small successes can help build momentum and overcome resistance in creative endeavors.
- The concept of integrating an editor's mindset in writing can enhance storytelling elements and ensure coherence.
- Recognizing and dismissing self-sabotage 'Resistance' can unlock creativity and align individuals with their true calling.
- Avoiding 'shadow careers' and pursuing bold ambitions can unleash creative potential and lead to fulfilling journeys.
- Practicing patience, self-compassion, and embracing the journey are crucial for navigating creative pursuits and personal growth.
Deep dives
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Benefits of Using Tonal for Workouts
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Overcoming Resistance with Little Successes Approach
The concept of little successes is highlighted as a strategy to overcome resistance and build momentum in creative endeavors like writing. By completing small tasks or routines before starting a main creative task, individuals can generate momentum and confidence. The podcast explores the idea of establishing a routine or habit, such as going to the gym early, to prepare mentally and emotionally for creative work.
Balancing Writing Processes and Editor's Mindset
The importance of integrating an editor's mindset into the writing process is discussed, emphasizing the value of refining and structuring the raw creative output. The Story Grid, developed by editor Sean Coyne, offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing and enhancing storytelling elements like themes, scenes, and genre conventions. By incorporating an editor's perspective, writers can refine their narratives and ensure coherence, depth, and effectiveness in their storytelling.
The Role of Editors in the Writing Process
Editors play a crucial role in guiding writers through the process of creating compelling stories. They provide valuable insights on story structures and storytelling principles, helping writers adhere to conventions and avoid common pitfalls. By learning to think like an editor, writers can enhance their self-editing skills, improving their work through multiple drafts and critical reflections.
Challenges and Self-Criticism in Writing Long-Form Content
The process of writing long-form content, such as blog posts or novels, can be riddled with challenges and self-criticism. The podcast episode delves into the author's personal experience with expanding a short bullet point into a lengthy blog post and grappling with self-doubt and criticism about their writing skills. The author reflects on the pressure to maintain writing standards over time and the emotional turmoil of feeling like their best work is behind them.
Overcoming Resistance and Embracing Creative Identity
The discussion emphasizes the concept of 'Resistance' as a force of self-sabotage that hinders creative expression. Drawing parallels between the ego and the self in Jungian psychology, the episode explores how embracing intuition and inspiration can lead to transformative work. By recognizing and dismissing self-imposed doubts and fears, individuals can unlock their creative potential and align with their true calling, transcending the limitations of the ego.
The Notion of Shadow Careers and Unleashing Creative Potential
The conversation touches upon the concept of 'shadow careers,' where individuals pursue professions adjacent to their true passions out of fear or self-doubt. Encouraging listeners to overcome shadow careers, the episode advocates for embracing bold ambitions and unleashing creative potential. By challenging oneself to pursue significant endeavors and resist self-censorship, individuals can break free from limiting beliefs and embark on fulfilling creative journeys.
Guidance for Venturing into Fiction Writing
For those considering entering the realm of fiction writing, the episode offers insights on taking bold creative leaps and engaging with storytelling on a profound level. The discussion encourages aspiring fiction writers to dive into ambitious projects and embrace the unknown, allowing creativity to flourish without the burden of external expectations. By prioritizing personal fulfillment and artistic exploration, individuals can cultivate deep connections with their creative identities and express themselves authentically.
Embracing Patience and Self-Compassion in Creative Pursuits
The podcast highlights the importance of patience and self-compassion in navigating creative pursuits and personal growth. Encouraging listeners to adopt a long-term perspective and avoid self-criticism, the episode underscores the significance of embracing the journey of self-discovery and creative expression. By fostering kindness towards oneself and maintaining a resilient mindset, individuals can unlock their creative potential and find fulfillment in their artistic endeavors.
Steven Pressfield — How to Overcome Self-Sabotage and Resistance, Routines for Little Successes, and The Hero’s Journey vs. The Artist’s Journey | Brought to you by Tonal smart home gym, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, the best version of LinkedIn for sales professionals, and Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement. More on all three below.
Steven Pressfield (@SPressfield), a former Marine and graduate of Duke University, became an overnight success as a writer after 30 years of abject failure. Identifying the omnipresence of “Resistance,” the interior force of self-sabotage he described in The War of Art, has saved his own artistic life and has helped many others struggling to find their creative calling. Steven’s novels of the ancient world, including the nonfiction The Warrior Ethos, are required reading at West Point, Annapolis, and in the Marine Corps. He lives in Los Angeles.
His new book is A Man at Arms, an epic saga about a reluctant hero, the Roman Empire, and the rise of a new faith.
Please enjoy!
This episode is brought to you by Tonal! Tonal is the world’s most intelligent home gym and personal trainer. It is precision engineered and designed to be the world’s most advanced strength studio. Tonal uses breakthrough technology—like adaptive digital weights and A.I. learning—together with the best experts in resistance training so you get stronger, faster. Every program is personalized to your body using A.I., and smart features check your form in real time, just like a personal trainer.
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