Procrastinators Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from chronic procrastination.
"The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield
At the DA meeting tonight, a friend of mine handed me this book. I spent most of the meeting reading it, and it is great. I'm going to order it on amazon.com.
It focuses on work procrastination - especially procrastination on creative work like writing or entrepreneurial work. This is my biggest problem area, so this book really spoke to me. It's a very spiritual book, and like nothing I've read before. When I've ordered it and read the whole thing, maybe I'll have more to say about it.
- Login to post comments
THe War of Art
I LOVE this book! The short (like one paragraph!) chapters match my short attention span. As soon as I finished it, I turned it over and started it again. That's a first fo r me!
"As artists and professionals it is our obligation to
enact our own internal revolution, a private insurrection
inside our own skulls. In this uprising we free ourselves
from the tyranny of consumer culture. We overthrow the
programming of advertising, movies, video games,
magazines, TV, and MTV by which we have been
hypnotized from the cradle. We unplug ourselves from
the grid by recognizing that we will never cure our restlessness
by contributing our disposable income to the bottom line
of Bullshit, Inc., but only by doing our work. "
Jo
"Time is what keeps everything from happening at once." - Johnathan Wheeler
The War of Art
Although I don't think of myself as a creative person, this book is excellent! It's written in short - very short - chapters and I think this may be the first anti-procrastination book I might actually finish. It's funny and insightful.
Jo
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot
I've ordered my own copy
I borrowed it from the library recently and read it in 2 nights. Maybe 3. Loved it.
I've ordered a copy and plan to incorporate it in my morning reading program.
The Hero's Code:
Show up. Pay Attention. Speak the Truth. Let Go of the Outcome.
Demand Resistance/The Art of War
I've been investigating my recent avoidance of a project I set for myself to do. I see a direct correlation to my avoidance and having read the book, The Art of War, by Pressfield. I enjoyed the book--especially the detailed exposure of the effects of Resistance on our attempts to move forward in the areas we are called to do.
BUT I think his definition of a professional writer as someone who sits down every day, all day, to write 'come rain, snow, sleet or illness' has caused me to react with "demand resistance.' I began to demand that of myself and then I proceeded to resist myself! So here I am, knowing I've given in to Resistance and unable to get myself out of the hole I DUG!
I need something to replace Pressfield's definition of a professional writer. So often in my life, I have redefined myself to please someone else. I was brought up with the idea that what I was good at was not going to help me survive in this life. Artists starve, right? Sensitive people SHOULD develop thicker skin! That worked (NOT!).
I did read a post under "Demand Resistance" in which someone (sorry, can't recall who right now) suggested that we write why we want to do something on index cards, carry those cards with us, and read them during the day. I think I'm going to try that.
Any other suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Karen
David Allen gives it a thumbs up
Yesterday, I listened to a podcast on procrastination by David Allen, who was praising this book. I'm going to order it too.
Another Thumbs Up
I really enjoyed this book. It explained a great deal about how Resistance stops me so often right when I'm on the path most suited to my talents and abilities.
I also enjoyed the David Allen podcast.
the Artists Way
I have not yet read this book, but this sounds very good. However, there is another book/journal thing that really motivates me that you might want to check out: The Artists' Way. If nothing else, when I do the journaling in the morning I feel a shift in my willingness to do, and I can suspend my disbelief that I can create. (It is a great motivator for all sorts of things)
Morning Pages
I have read the Artist's Way and even done a weekly workshop with it some years ago. I never quite got into the Morning Pages.
However, I've been finding myself lost as to how to proceed with my day in the afternoons. I homeschool the grandkids in the morning and school usually lasts until 1 - 3 PM. Then I'm faced with deciding how the rest of my day will go. That would be a great time to do the "Morning Pages". I've been wondering what vehicle to use to help me get out of that circular thinking that leaves me giving up and watching my favorite drug--TV!
Thanks,
Karen
link to podcast?
Do you have a link to the podcast by David Allen?
Here it is
http://www.43folders.com/2006/10/10/productive-talk-procrastination/
thanks!
Thanks for the link! I should be getting ready for bed now, but I'll listen to it tomorrow.