The Daily Battle: What The War of Art Taught Me About Showing Up

Every day, we face a battle, not with the world, but within ourselves. Whether it’s writing, parenting, building a business, or simply staying consistent, something always seems to pull us away from our purpose. For me, that ‘something’ finally had a name when I read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: Resistance.

This powerful little book hit me hard. As a working mum of two boys, a volunteer counsellor, someone who’s studying, and a woman with a lot of plates in the air, I’ve often struggled to stay consistent with my own creative pursuits. And until I read The War of Art, I didn’t quite understand why. Now I do. And it’s changed everything.

What Is Resistance, Really?

Pressfield describes Resistance as an invisible, insidious force that stops us from reaching our full potential. It’s the voice that says, “Skip today, you’re tired,” or “You’re not good enough anyway.” It shows up as procrastination, distraction, fear, perfectionism, and self-doubt. It’s why we scroll instead of start, and delay instead of do.

What makes this book so impactful is that it doesn’t just name the enemy. It gives you a plan to fight back.

The Antidote: Showing Up Anyway

One of the most powerful ideas in the book is this: just show up. It sounds almost too simple, but this concept, turning up for your work, whatever it may be, regardless of how you feel, is transformational.

Whether it’s writing, studying, or a going to the gym, there have been countless times when I didn’t feel like doing it. Resistance would whisper excuses, and sometimes I listened. But other times, I’d remember Pressfield’s words and show up anyway, even just for a few minutes.

And something magical would happen. The fog would lift. The hardest part was starting.

This consistent effort, even in small doses, changes everything. It’s not about big breakthroughs or waiting for inspiration. It’s the quiet rhythm of discipline. Like building a muscle, strength comes not from one heroic effort, but from daily practice over time.

Why Tiny Efforts Matter More Than Big Ones

This idea ties in beautifully with the principle of “1% changes,” popularised by James Clear in Atomic Habits. The premise is simple. If you improve by just 1% each day, the results compound over time into something extraordinary.

Instead of waiting for the perfect conditions, I’ve learned to make peace with small, doable steps. Writing for 15 minutes. Studying one section. Taking one action toward a goal. These micro-movements feel far less intimidating, and they add up. Especially when Resistance is trying to convince you it’s all too much.

Consistency: My Personal Battle

I’ll be honest, consistency has always been a challenge for me. Between life’s demands and the unpredictable nature of motherhood, work, studying, and everything in between, there are days when just keeping afloat feels like enough.

But The War of Art helped me see that it’s not about willpower or being superhuman. It’s about recognising Resistance for what it is and showing up anyway. I’ve started to create a more grounded rhythm in my life, one where progress doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be consistent.

With each small win, the voice of Resistance gets a little quieter.

Final Thoughts: Keep Showing Up

If you’re struggling to begin, to continue, or to stay consistent with something important to you, I highly recommend The War of Art. It’s a powerful reminder that the biggest obstacles are often the ones we can’t see, the internal ones. And that the most radical act of courage might simply be to show up, again and again.

The truth is, victory doesn’t usually look like a big finish line. It looks like today’s choice, to begin, despite the Resistance.

Take Care

Lora