222: How to Overcome Resistance Around Creativity and Finding Your Muse with War of Art Author, Steven Pressfield

The Light Watkins Show

In this week’s episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light Watkins sits down with bestselling author Steven Pressfield, known for his influential book The War of Art and his latest release, The Daily Pressfield. Steven shares profound insights into the creative process, discussing the ever-present struggle with resistance and the importance of showing up consistently to overcome it.

Steven offers a unique perspective on creativity, likening it to an improv exercise where there's always something in the box waiting to be discovered. He emphasizes the concept of the muse, a creative force that consistently provides ideas, and how crucial it is to invite this muse into our lives through disciplined practice.

Steven also shares personal anecdotes, including how carrying the Bhagavad Gita on flights led him to a breakthrough book idea. Light and Steven explore the importance of mindset in the creative journey, with Steven offering practical tips for writers and creators on how to entice the muse and defeat resistance.

The episode is packed with actionable advice for aspiring writers and creatives. Steven discusses the necessity of consistency, the significance of not judging your work too harshly, and the benefits of embracing imposter syndrome as a sign of stretching one's potential. He also shares fascinating stories from his career, including a strange writing circumstance that involved a medical condition and standing up to write.

Listeners will also learn about Steven’s upcoming intimate writer's workshop in California, where attendees can gain his personal instruction. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to deepen their creative practice and overcome the blocks that hinder their progress. Don’t miss this engaging conversation with one of the most insightful voices in the creative world.

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Chapters

1. 222: How to Overcome Resistance Around Creativity and Finding Your Muse with War of Art Author, Steven Pressfield (00:00:00)

2. - Introduction (00:00:01)

3. - How to navigate resistance as a creative (00:05:16)

4. - Secrets to becoming a bestselling writer (00:06:50)

5. - How to find inspiration everywhere (00:14:27)

6. - The key to navigating Resistance (00:21:40)

7. - Why artists should embrace cluelessness (00:29:18)

8. - How to detach ego from the craft (00:30:55)

9. - Skip this if you want to become a better writer (00:39:00)

10. - Fiction writing hacks you need to know (00:42:43)