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How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfield

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfield

Huberman Lab

Oct 20
Huberman Lab

Huberman Lab

Oct 20
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

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 creat...

Highlights

In this insightful conversation, Steven Pressfield, renowned author of *The War of Art*, delves into the psychological and practical challenges creators face when pursuing meaningful work. Drawing from decades of experience in writing and creative disciplines, he unpacks the invisible forces that derail progress and offers a no-nonsense framework for overcoming them through discipline, routine, and mindset shifts.
03:01
The more important a task is to your soul's growth, the more resistance you will feel
04:56
The stronger your dream, the darker the resistance.
08:51
Going to the gym early is a rehearsal for facing work resistance.
18:39
Ideas come from another place; we must open the pipeline to receive them.
25:51
Stop writing at the point of diminishing returns to maintain momentum
28:21
The first few sets after warm-up are the most valuable in resistance training and parallel high-efficiency creative work.
32:30
Writing without internet or music minimizes distractions
38:05
What we need most is often hidden behind resistance.
45:23
Resistance often comes from those closest to us, projecting their fears onto our pursuits.
56:50
Tribal instincts discourage individual paths
1:04:41
Perfectionism in science is a major cause of scientific fraud.
1:06:48
Perfectionism is resistance that stops you from shipping.
1:13:55
Life is long enough to achieve significant goals if you start now.
1:19:26
Doing work out of love for the craft is more important than chasing competition.
1:27:29
'The War of Art' or 'Gates of Fire' got the most public acceptance, neither was an overnight success
1:28:31
Jack Johnson maintains humility through simple routines like doing house chores despite his fame.
1:41:56
Turning pro means showing up consistently despite resistance
1:44:50
Professionals don't let feelings dictate their work—they show up regardless.
1:52:34
Turning pro means taking your work and life seriously, even if it means leaving friends behind.
1:56:48
Artists channel ideas from a higher plane rather than create them ex nihilo
2:04:02
A comfortable chair can reduce writing effectiveness
2:07:10
Complaining is a form of resistance.
2:08:25
Skills like handling success and criticism aren't taught in school but are crucial to long-term growth.

Chapters

Steven Pressfield
00:00
Ideas & Resistance, Tree & Shadow Analogy
04:55
Military, Pushing Through Resistance, War of Art
08:45
Physical Training, Tools: Capturing Ideas, Little Successes
10:14
Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp
16:11
Ideas, Invocation of the Muse, Goddess
18:36
Writing, Focus, Inner Critic, Perfectionism, Tool: Think in Multiple Drafts
23:19
Writing Session; Workout Analogy & Concentration
28:21
Aspiring Writers & Focused Hours; Work Session Timing; Phones
32:28
Inner Voice; Storytelling, Advertising
35:31
Soul & Growth, Creativity, Your Calling & Voices of Resistance, Suppression
39:45
Loved Ones: Projection, Resistance & Sabotage
48:10
Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & Rorra
51:04
Angry & Numbing Out, Resistance, Internet; Following Your Calling
53:52
Mentors: Lessons on Focus & Quitting
59:00
Perfectionism
1:06:46
Contemplating Your Mortality, Family Honor
1:10:42
Proving Yourself & Competition
1:16:49
First Movie, Failure, Analyze Feedback?, Tool: Self-Evaluation
1:22:01
Book Success, One-Hit Wonders; Book Titles
1:28:28
Sponsor: Function
1:34:22
Personal Sacrifice; High Achievers & Unbalanced Life; Social Media
1:36:09
Tool: Turning Pro, Amateur vs Professional Habits, Failure, Feelings
1:44:44
Cost of Turning Pro, Tool: Taking Oneself Seriously & Others’ Reactions
1:49:32
Creativity: Practical Advice & Muse; Acts of Faith; Surrender
1:56:42
Sponsor: David
2:04:00
Workspace, Uncomfortable Chair, Physical Labor, Complaining
2:05:17
Forthcoming Book, Book Recommendations
2:08:13
Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
2:13:46

Transcript

Steven Pressfield: For years, when I was struggling and could never get it together, I realized that at one point that I was just thinking like an amateur. And that if I could flip a switch in my mind and think like a professional, that I could overcome so...