Fighting the Lizard Brain Resistance

Feel the fear and do it anyway

Symptoms of 'The Resistance' as discussed below

All week I was sick

All week I was afraid

All week I was being convinced there was a 100 better things to do and better ways to do it

All week I went back and forth between feeling futile but doing it anyway, fighting the good fight, trying to prepare when I couldn't  breathe through my own nose -

"Nah nah nah - How're you going to sing if you can't breathe", the Lizard said

Lessons learnt:

• It was good to do show and push my envelope ( performing a full set is a bigger task than an open mic)
• Friends are great- and Encouragement is important ( with reality)
• The struggle is an inside issue not and outside one - this can be a whole blog subject itself.
• Create VIP list of folks to email and let know I'm playing out and send them a nicely worded HTML invite with a gift or encouragement to come to gig
• Share the stage and create team poportunities ( Nice new word by me!) to play together with other folks and share the artist and technical burden of equipment and setup and promotion - sharing with the awesome Ryan Morgan and his cool lyrics and hooks was great. Calm and solid performance.

Some of the above is commentary on my reflections through what I have read recently - and previously about making Art. This next section feels like it should be a 2nd Blog post but allow it for the moment - it's of a theme with above fear facts.


The war of Art - 

Steven Pressfield speaks of a tremendous animus force pushing headlong against our greatest need to create, trying to suppress us creating ( creating anything new whether an entrepreneurial venture or a sculpture or song).  Turning pro is a step in defeating this as is putting work out there to suceed or fail and mostly fail. Failing does not mean I'm a failure - in fact it probably is the opposite - the Lizard and the Resistance did not have their day in the sun either - so is it a draw or a win?  Pressfield  also says that fear is the thing we can use to indiate what we most need to do.

Derek Sivers   says the same thing in his idea of doing whatever excites you or makes you afraid and if there's something that makes you uncomfortable versus the comfortable safe choice - take the more difficult choice. 

The litany of the saints of artist freedom:

• Derek Sivers
• Hugh McLeod
• Julia Cameron (!!!) 
• Steven Pressfield

Seth Godin also deserves  a mention - admitting though I want to  read a little more of him also.


The Lefestz Letter is also cool for a really down to earth and realistic look at music industry hyperbole.

Finally Dan Kimpel is another cool soul to catch up with especially for songsters - he really gets into the heart and souls of Songwriters - Go Dan! he the man for networking!

As I write this I am aware I am in exalted internet blogger and artistic company, it's good to have human templates to aspire to as the heavenly helpers may seem very far away - I am following and trying to learn to live an integrated life & walk in their shoes. These writers and bloggers have all helped me in different ways to get through the valley of the day job and now helping me find handholds and paths in the night fog of the pro-artist.

It also has to be said a spirituality is really important; as it used to be called - faith and hope. Pressfield says the muses and higher powers are there to help us -

Yea though I walk in the shadow of no day job I fear no evil for thy rod and thy staff are there to comfort me... 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.