Member-only story
1/10 Understanding Resistance: The Invisible Enemy

Welcome to the first instalment of our 10-part series inspired by Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. Today, we’ll dive deep into the concept of Resistance, the unseen force that Pressfield describes as the biggest barrier to creativity and success. Understanding Resistance is the first crucial step in overcoming it.
What is Resistance?
Steven Pressfield defines Resistance as a destructive force against human creativity and ambition. In his words, “Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet.” It’s the internal enemy that arises whenever we attempt to pursue something meaningful, whether it’s writing a book, starting a business, or embarking on a new fitness regime.
The Characteristics of Resistance
Resistance is insidious and takes many forms, making it challenging to recognise and even harder to combat. Here are some key characteristics of Resistance:
1. Procrastination:
Procrastination is the most common manifestation of Resistance. It’s the voice in your head that says, “I’ll start tomorrow.” Pressfield notes, “Procrastination is the most common manifestation of Resistance because it’s the easiest to rationalise. We don’t tell ourselves, ‘I’m never going to write my symphony.’…