It can be a hard thing to make one's self work, as we all know. I am illustrating another book, and have given myself a deadline of mid February to finish the pictures. But it is hard. Life got busier than ever this month, and finding time has been a challenge. Finding gumption has been even harder.
So when a friend who had been in bit of an artistic slump started producing after reading The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield, I decided to use my Audible credit to nab the audiobook.
The first parts of the book, on professionalism, were very helpful. It was about overcoming resistance to doing work (and doing it daily) , and not being afraid of criticism.
It is easy, so easy to come up with excuses. I am pregnant, after all, and more tired than usual. I do have seven kids..... and so on...
But the biggest part of my resistance is fear. Fear that when I put my pen to paper, what comes out won't measure up. Afraid that I won't be able to pull it off again. Afraid....
But.... I have promised to do it, am called to do it. And putting the pen to paper is the hardest part. After that, it gets easier.
The last section of the book is more iffy---an odd combination of ancient Greek paganism and eastern mysticism. We do need help though, and often I pray fervently to the Lord before beginning my work!
Overall, though, I have benefited from listening to the book. It is good to know that it is okay to have to tough it out, to get up early to carve out the time to do the work... it is okay for it not to be easy. It is a struggle, as almost every thing worthwhile in life is.
And every day, the biggest part of the struggle is starting.
So when a friend who had been in bit of an artistic slump started producing after reading The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield, I decided to use my Audible credit to nab the audiobook.
The first parts of the book, on professionalism, were very helpful. It was about overcoming resistance to doing work (and doing it daily) , and not being afraid of criticism.
It is easy, so easy to come up with excuses. I am pregnant, after all, and more tired than usual. I do have seven kids..... and so on...
But the biggest part of my resistance is fear. Fear that when I put my pen to paper, what comes out won't measure up. Afraid that I won't be able to pull it off again. Afraid....
But.... I have promised to do it, am called to do it. And putting the pen to paper is the hardest part. After that, it gets easier.
The last section of the book is more iffy---an odd combination of ancient Greek paganism and eastern mysticism. We do need help though, and often I pray fervently to the Lord before beginning my work!
Overall, though, I have benefited from listening to the book. It is good to know that it is okay to have to tough it out, to get up early to carve out the time to do the work... it is okay for it not to be easy. It is a struggle, as almost every thing worthwhile in life is.
And every day, the biggest part of the struggle is starting.
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