Thinking Against "The Resistance"

Been thinking lots lately about time, creative energy, and the never-ending deluge of distractions. Even though at times we think our creative energy is as deeply abundant as an infinite reservoir, it's not. There's a saturation point to everything and distraction is the enemy that keeps great ideas at bay. Keeps them from flourishing. Keeps us from creating. The best ideas may begin as flashes and then evolve over time. They require Thinking. How often do we really get to Think? Are we making "Thinking" a discipline?

Within the last week I found this great article on Zen Habits - The Reason You're Stuck (and the one best way to avoid the six ways that will keep you stuck). It's a guest post by Seth Godin who recently wrote the book Linchpin (A book on my reading list).

Here's a paragraph from this recommended read:

The resistance finds excuses, it makes tasks needlessly complex (or oversimplifies so much that you fail). The resistance uses phrases like, “see, I told you it would never work.” The resistance demands that you study the issue more, or grab a Diet Coke, or go visit those friends who are in from out of town and you won’t be able to see them unless you go right now. The resistance invented yak shaving. The resistance is also responsible for giving you an even better idea just before you finish this one… in fact, the resistance will do anything it can to prevent you from shipping.

The article on The Resistance hit home with respect to natural distractions and fears as impediments to controlled thinking. Thinking both quietly and out loud. There are human qualities this article discusses about The Resistance. Being aware is just the first step in addressing this battle.

Zen Habits is one of my favs that will be remaining in my feedreader. Thanks Leo for this great content.

P.S.  - What's the picture in this post got to do with this article? For me it's just a picture I took and came across when writing the post. Just a reflection on simplicity and Zen Thinking. A little calm in the face of the fight.