Resistance In Creative Ventures

There’s a certain feeling of anticipation at the beginning of a worthy endeavor. Perhaps there is a vision or a wish. So you go out and you buy the needed supplies. But a wish remains a wish if tools sit there in silent witness to your procrastination. This can become a cycle of, “I will do it someday.” A wish becomes a hope when we implement a plan of action.

Sometimes, though, it is not so easy to get started or you may start only to realize that your analytical brain takes over and begins to bash your efforts. It’s extremely easy to succumb to the thoughts of perfectionism, doubt, and negative thought patterns. Think about the last time you were disappointed with your efforts. Did you treat yourself as a caring friend, full of compassion? Chances are your inner voice was harsh and demanding.

It seems like the more you care about something the bigger the insecurity. We begin to notice that there is something that wants to stop us from dreaming big and actively working toward our goals. Steven Pressfield, who wrote The War of Art calls this Resistance. To me, Resistance feels like a big hurdle of “what ifs” and there are way too many reasons as to why I can’t move past a certain point. What does Resistance look like to you?

“The more resistance you experience, the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you - and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.” ― Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

Beginning a creative endeavor is scary. The fact that there is creativity involved means that you are exercising your unique point of view. Once you start, there is no way to tell how it will end and, therefore, creative activities require courage and an optimistic belief that it will all work out and that we will enjoy the process. It’s not surprising that we sometimes hit a wall. The blank canvas is just too much to bear. The cursor blinks at us with an impatient rhythm atop a vast blank page.

The question is, how to move forward? You are a pilgrim on a faith journey, with a high calling and a promise. How do you start your journey and continue without giving up?

Let us recognize that in our faith and in our artistic path we face many giants who have given us the proverbial stare down. Think about a place or time when your courage failed. How did you move onward and upward? What did you learn in that process?

Perhaps you relied on your tried and true habits and art practice to keep you going. Or perhaps you gathered your loins and looked at Resistance in the face and, like David, you said:

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty...”

Either way, I think it’s worthwhile to recognize areas of Resistance, identify your goals, and make a plan for how to face your giant with full expectation that God will help you overcome.

~ Nancy Rodriguez