My guest is Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art and expert in how to overcome the inner force of "resistance"—the self-sabotaging tendency to procrastinate on your life’s most important work that keeps you from realizing your professional and creative potential. Steven shares actionable tools for defeating inner resistance that work. His approach is concrete, not based on slogans or inspirational messages. As the author of numerous best-selling books and screenplays, Steven’s routines for cultivating discipline and focus, including his physical training regimen (he is incredibly mentally and physically vigorous at 82), are applicable by anyone. He gives you effective practical strategies for how to structure your day, overcome procrastination and self-doubt and do your best, most meaningful work.
Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/gVuzPzl
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*Steven Pressfield*
Website: https://stevenpressfield.com
Books: https://amzn.to/3L6dVVr
Writing Wednesdays: https://stevenpressfield.com/category/writing-wednesdays
Overcoming Resistance (course): https://silentwritingretreat.com/steven-pressfield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield
X: https://x.com/SPressfield
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spressfield
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuZco7pCtIm8UvGm8dp8Yg
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*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Steven Pressfield
00:04:55 Ideas & Resistance, Tree & Shadow Analogy
00:08:45 Military, Pushing Through Resistance, War of Art
00:10:14 Physical Training, Tools: Capturing Ideas, Little Successes
00:16:11 Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp
00:18:36 Ideas, Invocation of the Muse, Goddess
00:23:19 Writing, Focus, Inner Critic, Perfectionism, Tool: Think in Multiple Drafts
00:28:21 Writing Session; Workout Analogy & Concentration
00:32:28 Aspiring Writers & Focused Hours; Work Session Timing; Phones
00:35:31 Inner Voice; Storytelling, Advertising
00:39:45 Soul & Growth, Creativity, Your Calling & Voices of Resistance, Suppression
00:48:10 Loved Ones: Projection, Resistance & Sabotage
00:51:04 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & Rorra
00:53:52 Angry & Numbing Out, Resistance, Internet; Following Your Calling
00:59:00 Mentors: Lessons on Focus & Quitting
01:06:46 Perfectionism
01:10:42 Contemplating Your Mortality, Family Honor
01:16:49 Proving Yourself & Competition
01:22:01 First Movie, Failure, Analyze Feedback?, Tool: Self-Evaluation
01:28:28 Book Success, One-Hit Wonders; Book Titles
01:34:22 Sponsor: Function
01:36:09 Personal Sacrifice; High Achievers & Unbalanced Life; Social Media
01:44:44 Tool: Turning Pro, Amateur vs Professional Habits, Failure, Feelings
01:49:32 Cost of Turning Pro, Tool: Taking Oneself Seriously & Others’ Reactions
01:56:42 Creativity: Practical Advice & Muse; Acts of Faith; Surrender
02:04:00 Sponsor: David
02:05:17 Workspace, Uncomfortable Chair, Physical Labor, Complaining
02:08:13 Forthcoming Book, Book Recommendations
02:13:46 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
