Let’s face it. We’re all guilty of procrastinating on some level. For those of you familiar with the book “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield, you’ll know it’s all about resistance to doing the creative work you were meant to do. I had resisted this book for years before I finally succumbed, grabbing a copy while in the middle of an extended phase of short trips. I’m glad I did because I discovered that it is very possible to be creative while on the road. My notebook of scribbles and ideas got so full while traveling that it’s taking lots of time to process all the ideas now that I’m back! What helped me stay creative while dealing with trains, planes and meetings in different cities?
- Low caffeine
- Daily exercise
- Keeping calm and not letting myself get upset about delayed flights, exorbitant prices or rude customer service
- Treating travel time as down time to rest my brain, let my mind wander, stare out the window and avoid my computer and phone.
I’m not sure what it was in this book that helped me continue ideating and creating while managing all my logistics, but I’m grateful for it. Perhaps what resonated with me most was all the talk about creating from a place of purpose and understanding that our ideas come through us. We are the vehicle, and our job is to bring the ideas forth. We aren’t meant to create to advance our own standing. We’re simply meant to create our best work, whether we compensated for it or not. Below are some of the gems I found from Pressfield’s book:
- Resistance is universal and it’s fueled by fear. “The professional tackles the project that will make him stretch…If you’re paralyzed with fear, it’s a good sign. It shows you what you have to do.”
- “A professional dedicates himself to mastering technique…not because he believes technique is a substitute for inspiration but because he wants to be in possession of the full arsenal of skills when inspiration does come.”
- “Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.”
My question for you: How do you maintain your ideas habit when you get busy or life gets complicated?
By Rhea Wessel