I’ve been wrestling with the same old dilemma that bedevils creative spirits everywhere: should I focus on my art or on paying the bills? And do I have a choice?
It’s not like I have produced anything resembling art so far. But I do have books in me that might surprise you. I have two first drafts on my hard drive right now, as well as a brand new idea for a hilarious novel just begging to be written.
Why haven’t I finished them?
Because every time I start to go into that creative zone, some crisis comes up and I find myself chasing after dollars to solve the problem.
I have a feeling this sounds familiar to you.
It happens to every artist of every kind: painter, sculptor, writer, dancer, actor, guitarist, comic book artist (yes, I’m looking at a certain son of mine)… every last one of us struggles with this issue, even those of us who have all the money we need — not that I know anyone like that.
There is always a crisis that calls us away from our creative work
It’s easy to say that we manifest these crises in order to avoid what we fear doing — our work on this planet, our calling. (And we do fear it. Because what if we find out we’re not the creative genius we secretly believe we are? Worse yet: what if we find out that we ARE?)
Maybe we do manifest these things, maybe it’s the Universe. It doesn’t matter.
Steven Pressfield says in his masterwork, The War of Art, that it is Resistance with a capital R:
As powerful as is our soul’s call, so potent are the forces of Resistance arrayed against it. We’re not alone if we’ve been mowed down by Resistance; millions of good men and women have bitten the dust before us.
Wherever they come from, we find life’s problems to be both maddening and a huge relief. The unexpected auto repair, the medical emergency, the unplanned pregnancy, the divorce — even falling in love. All are perfect excuses to give up pursuing our calling — you know, “for now.”
But they keep coming, these crises and life events, year after year, because that’s how life works… and before you know it, you are pushing 70 and still haven’t done whatever it was you dreamed of so many years ago.
Listen to me, and listen good
You’re only here once. Forget about reincarnation, this is it. If you screw this up, you will live with the bitter taste of regret in your mouth.
Go after your dream, whatever it is, in your spare minutes between customers and doctor appointments.
Deal with life’s hassles as you must but always keep your creative work as your first priority.
Write that book, word by word, while your demanding new baby naps. And when you finish, find a publisher or publish it yourself.
Draw that comic book on the back of receipts and napkins. But then, DO something with it.
Go to art school after work (but try not to take out a student loan.)
Get the divorce if that’s what it takes. Or don’t. (Maybe your unhappiness is with yourself, not your spouse.)
Stay up late, get up early — do whatever it takes.
Don’t let life take your eye off the prize: YOU, FULFILLING YOUR PURPOSE.
And never give up. Never.
This second we can turn the tables on Resistance.
This second, we can sit down and do our work.
― Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Are you fired up? Let me help you keep the fire going.
