“Just imagine how much you’d get done… if you stopped actively sabotaging your own work.” – Seth Godin
I can always find reasons why I don’t do things. Truthfully, they aren’t reasons, just excuses. For instance, last Sunday, I didn’t make any pots; I didn’t take any photos; I didn’t clean anything. But it wasn’t a restful or rejuvenating day either. I read; ate dinner; watched TV; and that’s about it.
So all this slothfulness has me thinking…If I had a wheel at home, I would make pots. Wait…I do but I didn’t. I love pottery and as odd as it is, I often choose to lie on the couch. So why do I struggle to do what I love?
Although it might be true that a potter would make more pots if she had her own wheel – this is not the largest limitation. Lack of motivation and focus keep me from making more pots. Instead, I allow my true passion to be sold out for lesser things – most often TV (the biggest consumer of my time with the smallest return).
How can I keep myself from sabotaging my work?
Read “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield
http://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/0446691437
I don’t much care for reading, but this really does give you a new way of looking at making and why you may self-sabotoge.
Thank you very much for the suggestion! I’m actually reading War of Art now. His characterization of ‘Resistance’ feels very true to me. Now, I need to figure out how to make a start when my lesser self chooses the sofa…