The Invisible Force Holding You Back (And How to Defeat It)

You know that feeling when you’re about to start something important? Maybe it’s a new project, a workout routine, or even writing down your goals. Suddenly, you’re struck by an overwhelming urge to do anything else.

I’ll start tomorrow. Maybe I need to do more research first. I’m not ready yet.

Sound familiar? It’s not just you. We’ve all been there. I’ve been there. I had this great idea for a business once, and every day I planned, tweaked, brainstormed…but I never took action. Days turned into weeks, and nothing changed.

It wasn’t until I read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield that everything clicked. Pressfield revealed something that changed my perspective forever: the real enemy wasn’t laziness or a lack of talent. It was something deeper - Resistance.

Today, we’re diving into what The War of Art teaches us about Resistance and how you can fight back. Here are five lessons that can transform procrastination into progress and help you reclaim control of your goals.

1. Name the Enemy: Resistance

Steven Pressfield calls it “Resistance,” and it’s more than just procrastination. Resistance is that invisible force that fills your head with doubts, distractions, and excuses. It’s why you suddenly feel the urge to clean your entire house when you should be working on your projects.

Let me give you an example. When I started this channel, I faced Resistance every single day. I’d think, Who am I to give advice? What if no one watches? That’s Resistance talking - and it’s sneaky. It disguises itself as logic, comfort, or even responsibility.

The first step to defeating Resistance is recognizing it. Name it. Call it out when you notice yourself making excuses. Say it out loud: That’s Resistance. The moment you expose it, it starts to lose its power. You’re no longer tricked into believing the lies it tells you.

2. Turn Pro: Commit Like a Professional

One of Pressfield’s most profound lessons is this: Amateurs wait for inspiration. Professionals show up no matter what. The difference is commitment. Amateurs dabble; pros treat their goals like a job.

Think about it: Would you skip work because you “didn’t feel like it”? Of course not. So why do we let our dreams take a back seat?

I learned this the hard way during my fitness journey. At first, I waited for motivation. But motivation is unreliable. It’s here today, gone tomorrow. So, I decided to “turn pro.” I made a schedule and stuck to it, rain or shine. The results came faster than I expected because I wasn’t waiting for the perfect moment; I was creating momentum through consistency.

Whatever your goal - whether it’s writing a book, starting a business, or learning a new skill - treat it like a job. Show up. Put in the hours. Let the results follow.

3. Start Before You’re Ready

Resistance loves to tell us we’re not ready.

You need more experience. You need better tools. You need more time.

Here’s the truth: You’ll never feel 100% ready. Waiting for the perfect moment is a trap. I fell into this trap when I was working on my first YouTube video. I tweaked, edited, and second-guessed every detail. Weeks went by, and I still hadn’t hit “publish.”

One day, I realized something: Perfect is just another word for ‘never.’ So, I hit “publish.” Was it perfect? Absolutely not - far from it. But I learned, improved, and kept going.

Don’t wait for the stars to align. Start messy. Start small. Just start. Progress doesn’t come from endless preparation; it comes from action.

4. Embrace the Daily Grind

Pressfield compares Resistance to a dragon that you have to battle every single day. At first, this idea sounds exhausting. But here’s the twist: The daily grind is where you grow.

Each time you show up - especially on the days you don’t feel like it - you’re weakening Resistance. You’re proving to yourself that you’re stronger than the excuses in your head.

When I started writing scripts for my videos, some days the words flowed effortlessly. Other days? It felt like pulling teeth. But I wrote anyway. And you know what? Those “bad” days often led to breakthroughs later.

Consistency builds momentum, and momentum crushes Resistance. Treat every day as a win if you show up - no matter how small the progress seems.

5. Separate Yourself from Your Work

One of the most liberating lessons from The War of Art is this: You are not your work. Resistance thrives on fear - fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of judgment. But when you detach your self-worth from the outcome, you become unstoppable.

I used to fear putting myself out there. What if people didn’t like my videos? What if I failed? But Pressfield’s wisdom shifted my mindset: My job is to create. How people react is out of my control.

When you separate your identity from your work, you give yourself the freedom to take bold action. Your worth isn’t tied to success or failure; it’s tied to showing up and giving your best.

Closing: The Fight Against Resistance

Resistance is sneaky. It disguises itself as logic, comfort, even responsibility. But now you know its tricks. You can name it, face it, and fight back.

• Name the enemy and call it out.

• Commit like a professional.

• Start before you feel ready.

• Embrace the grind and show up daily.

• Detach your worth from the outcome.

Every time you push through Resistance, you’re one step closer to the life you want. The war against Resistance is ongoing, but every battle you win makes you stronger. Don’t let it hold you back. You’ve got a war to fight - and you’re ready.

Let’s go.