Turning pro
Winkletter • 23 Sept 2024 •
I listened to Steven Pressfield’s book Turning Pro yesterday and it kicked me in the tenders. Oh man, I am such an amateur. I need to brainwash myself with both The War of Art and Turning Pro. They’re under three hours long, so I could listen to one book each morning at 1.5 or 1.75 speed and get through them in an hour and a half. If I did this for a week or two, would it push me to turn pro?
What does that even look like?
- Unplug: I need to disconnect from the internet more. This is my main addiction and what I use to avoid the work of my heart. I literally just need to unplug the cord.
- Reconnect: I need to reconnect with the world around me and my own ambition. What is it that I really want to do?
- Clock In: Stop working at random times and instead write on a schedule.
- Clock Out: Set a time where I can clock out and reward myself with some fun activities.
Comments
I don’t know if this is the same thing you’re referring to, but one thing I’ve been thinking about is getting my anxiety behind me rather than in front. It’s a bit like having resistance pushing me.
@Winkletter What’s the work of your heart Robb? Writing fiction/novels?
@jasonleow My focus keeps getting divided with other things, but writing stories is what I keep coming back to.
Oh, I like that visual! I sometimes replace the fear/anxiety with a more positive emotion, such as excitement. In general, I don’t like to imagine I have inner enemies (Resistance, demons, etc). I think of everything within us as being there to help us, but it might be overly protective, so we try to find better ways of dealing with these feelings.
@Winkletter Ah yes yes. Seeing that too.
I loved The War of Art and Turning Pro when I read them, but I now also work through my Resistance, instead of confronting it. I actually think the Resistance is on my side. It’s being overly protective of me, leading to me getting in my own way. By understanding where the Resistance is coming from (and where it wants to lead me to), I’m able to recruit it as an ally.
But if the narrative of confrontation excites you, please go at it. I think it’s sometimes productive and fun to feel like we have an enemy we need to do battle with. 😄