Bestselling author Steven Pressfield says he believes we all have the ability to do something spectacular, whether it be to run a marathon, write the great American novel or become an entrepreneur. However, he says, there is an internal force -- resistance -- we first need to overcome.
"I think that Resistance, as I define it with a capital R, is that negative force that arises whenever we try to move from a lower level to a higher level," Pressfield says in the above clip from "Super Soul Sunday" on OWN.
Reaching for a higher level, Pressfield explains, "elicits this equal and opposite negative force."
In his new book, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Pressfield writes what he calls "resistance's greatest hits."
In the video, Oprah reads from the list of activities that most commonly elicit resistance:
- The launching of any entrepreneurial venture or enterprise, for profit or otherwise
"That, too?" Oprah asks, referring to the commitment one.
"Absolutely," Pressfield says. "Because you're trying to move from a petty, narrow ego-based point of view to someone grander. You're trying to get to your nobler side."
Pressfield goes on to explain that by moving away from the ego, he means, "To be generous. To be kind. To be open to love," he says.
"I think Wayne Dyer had said this on an episode," Oprah says. "The ego is literally edging God out. It's when you're putting yourself first and only thinking of yourself."
"I would agree with that," Pressfield says.
"Super Soul Sunday" airs Sundays at 11 a.m. ET on OWN.
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