Get Stomped by the Bull

If nothing else, The War of Art is the friend and coach you wish you had to push you hard enough to do the thing you love. There is some work to be done in reconciling this book with the scientific findings summarized in So Good They Can't Ignore You, but I'll save that for another post. Suffice it to say that being "in the arena, getting stomped by the bull" means doing the hard work necessary to offer your art to the world and watching the world reject your art until you get it right.

I've spent a lot of time trying to get out of the parking lot, out of the stands, and into the arena. Unfortunately, I don't yet know what it feels like to be stomped by the bull but one can only hope.

It is surprisingly hard to find other people who are interested in being stomped by the bull. One reason is that most people naturally want to avoid pain, even if that means losing significant opportunities. Another reason is that those who are willing to be stomped quickly figure out how to perform at a level that avoids the stomping. They find success, and intentionally or unintentionally leave the crowd of amateurs behind.

It is surprisingly difficult and comes at great cost. It is easy to feel as though life itself conspires against you to prevent you from entering the arena. Just finding the time to keep going is itself an impressive logistical feat.

But it's worth the struggle. Name just one sure fire way to clear your mind of irrational fears, to focus your attention as deeply as your mind is capable of doing, and to learn something new about the world and about yourself? Make your art.