The Magic of Authenticity

I have finished reading The War of Art (TWoA). It was a bit different than any other book I had read before. It had an odd layout but one that was relatively easy to read, actually. The third, and final section was called “Beyond Resistance: The Higher Realm”.

This section focused on the challenge of initially starting something and staying with it, as well as finding our talents and using them well.

When we write and create via our authentic selves we are doing what we were meant and designed to do as individual people. As the author puts it: “Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” (TWoA, 146)

Creative work should not be seen as a cry for attention, instead, we should make it our gift to the world, as our talents are not ours, to begin with

There is also “magic” in taking initiative and starting something, there’s yet still more in keeping going and always improving: “Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.” (TWoA, 122)

We should also not be driven by hierarchy but instead by territory. A true artist is happy when she owns her field, not when she beats others in it, that is, we must do our work for our own sake. (TWoA, 151, paraphrased)

If you know of the next great idea and you don’t -honestly- pursue it, you’re not just cheating yourself, you would be cheating everyone who would benefit from what your skills would bring to the world. Find your creativite abilities, move beyond resistance, act professionally, and give it all you’ve got.