Do the Work

by Steven Pressfield

Test Number Two “Why do you want it?”

The only items you get to keep are love for the work, will to finish, and passion to serve the ethical, creative Muse.

Crashes are hell, but in the end they’re good for us. A crash means we have failed. We gave it everything we had and we came up short. A crash does not mean we are losers.

crash means we’re at the threshold of learning something, which means we’re getting better, we’re acquiring the wisdom of our craft.

Creative panic is good. Here’s why: Our greatest fear is fear of success. When we are succeeding—that is, when we have begun to overcome our self-doubt and self-sabotage, when we are advancing in our craft and evolving to a higher level—that’s when panic strikes.

When we experience panic, it means that we’re about to cross a threshold. We’re poised on the doorstep of a higher plane.

finishing is the critical part of any project. If we can’t finish, all our work is for nothing.

I’ve never read anything better on the subject than this from Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.