The War Within, Resistance, Turning Pro in 2025 & More

Frohes Neues Jahr Creators,

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2025, the Chinese Year of the Wood Snake.

As a snake sheds its skin and is always on the move, this week you’re going to build some momentum and drop what has been holding you back. 

Today we will confront the enemy of creation — resistance — and detail how to overcome it. If you've ever felt a mysterious force stopping you from doing your work, this newsletter will give you the weapons to fight back.

Today at a Glance

Question: What Does Your Resistance Look Like? 

Quote: On the Professional Mindset 

Framework: The Resistance-Proof System 

Idea: Turning Pro 

Video: Behind the Scenes of Steven Pressfield’s Writing Routine

Question: What Does Your Resistance Look Like? 

In "The War of Art,” Steven Pressfield introduces resistance as a universal force—an invisible, internal enemy that fights against any act of creative or spiritual growth. 

Think of it as a law of nature, like gravity.

And just as gravity pulls us down, resistance pulls against our creative aspirations.

Resistance is impersonal, infallible, and always working against our loftiest goals.

It’s the force that stopped Einstein from pursuing mathematics, kept Mozart from composing, and right now, might be stopping you from creating your best work.

The most insidious part?

Resistance shows up strongest when we're closest to a breakthrough.

It manifests as:

• Starting a dozen projects but finishing none.

• Reorganizing your desk instead of writing.

• Waiting for "inspiration" or "the right moment."

• Checking social media one more time.

• Self-doubt, procrastination, fear, rationalization.

Which face of resistance sounds familiar to you? 

The key to beating it starts with identifying its presence in your daily habits.

Quote: On Fighting Resistance 

Lesson: The bigger the dream, the stronger the Resistance. That knot in your stomach? The sudden urge to clean the house? They're not obstacles - they're signposts. They're telling you exactly what you need to do next. This isn’t a new concept. 2000 years ago, the last great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius nailed down resistance in all but the name. “The mind adapts and converts to its purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

Framework: The Resistance-Killing System

1. Identify: Morning Pages (15 minutes)

• Write for 15 minutes straight, stream-of-consciousness.

• Don't edit, don't stop.

• Now write out all the ways resistance tried to stop you.

2. Adapt: Set Physical Anchors

• If you get distracted, make a writing workspace.

• If you got interrupted, set a quiet writing time.

• If you felt like an imposter, get some writing clothes.

  • This might sound dumb, but it’s about overcoming resistance by any means necessary.

3. Overcome: Track Your Victories

• Log daily work sessions - are you Turning Pro? (keep reading).

• Celebrate small wins.

  • Good comments on your post? Screenshot it and put it on your desktop homepage.

• Note when resistance shows up and when you beat it.

  • Keep a Resistance vs You score sheet.

Idea: Turning Pro 

Think about your journey in medicine.

As a medical student, you didn't just "try" to learn anatomy when you felt inspired. You showed up to every dissection, every rotation, every call - regardless of how you felt. 

Becoming a doctor meant something to you. You had skin in the game - failing exams, letting yourself down, not having an income. You turned up no matter what. That’s what it means to be a pro. Just as you have protocols for patient care, the creative pro needs protocols for their craft.

Here's an example of what Turing Pro could look like for you:

The Clinical vs. Creative Pro:

• Clinical: You don't skip rounds because you're "not in the mood”.

• Creative: Show up at your desk at the same time, every day, no matter how you feel.

• Clinical: You document every patient interaction meticulously.

• Creative: Track every work session and every encounter with resistance

• Clinical: You follow evidence-based protocols

• Creative: Follow your creative system, regardless of “inspiration"

Some evening questions to guide you:

1. Did I show up today with the same dedication I give my patients?

2. Did I treat my creative practice as seriously as my medical one?

3. When Resistance showed up, did I diagnose and treat it, or let it fester?

4. What would I prescribe myself for tomorrow?

Remember: Just as you wouldn't skip prescribing medication or performing an operation, don't skip your creative work.

The Pro treats both with equal gravity.

Video: Behind the Scenes of Steven Pressfield’s Writing Routine

In line with this week’s theme, today’s video is a 6-minute detailed breakdown of Steven Pressfield’s daily writing routine to overcome Resistance and remain a Pro. Enjoy!

I hope that was as much fun to read as it was to write. 

But let’s not all Kumbaya, My Lord around the campfire. 

Resistance is going to turn up every day in 2025. It will double, triple, and quadruple its efforts if you’re teetering on the brink of novel self-expression.

Meet it head-on. Straight left, right uppercut, and a People’s Elbow for good measure. Look up from the canvas and witness the expanse of your imagination.

Run it over with the engine of your imagination. Don’t forget to smile as you glance in the rearview mirror.

— Adi and Pranav