Frontiers Friday #23. Devotion to the Craft (Part 4)
Frontiers of Psychotherapist Development
Frontiers Friday #23. Devotion to the Craft (Part 4)
End of 5-day Lockdown here in Perth. Compared other countries, I don't think we had it as tough.
Dispatch number #23: 4 recommendations from people who devote themselves to their craft, and one relevant quote/poem/song.
Read: Turning Pro
Steven Pressfield is an earnest man devoted to the craft of writing and storytelling. He's known for a book called the War of Art (not the Art of War).
I really liked War of Art. It was a good kick-up-the-butt type of book in dealing with our inner-resistance.
In Turning Pro, Pressfield knuckles you down to the price of what it means to turn pro.
"The passage from amateur to professional is often achieved via an interior odyssey... We pass through a membrane when we turn pro. It's messy and it's scary. We tread in blood when we turn pro."
We call ourselves "professionals," but do not behave like a pro. More, most of us don't have habits and systems to support what's required to do the work that demands of us in this therapeutic space.
I read Turning Pro in August 2016. It helped me turn up the dial and embrace a lot more of what's possible. (But doesn't stop me from feeling like a perpetual amateur).
Watch: Scriptwriter Aaron Sorkin
Fame screenwriter and film producer/director Aaron Sorkin says that one of the key things he keeps in mind developing a plot for the protagonist is the following:
Character = Intentions + Obstacles
Watch any of the shows he has a hand on, like the Trial of Chicago 7 (Probably the best movie of the year), Social Network, A Few Good Men, West Wing, Newsroom, ... you'd see a master at his craft.
Watch: Oliver Sacks Documentary, His Own Life
I bet you've at least come across the late neurologist and writer Oliver Sacks books.
I was super excited to hear that they made a documentary about his.
It was particularly moving to learn about how he struggled with his sexuality during the times that he was in.
Read: How Long did It Took Leonard Cohen to write Hallelujah?
Do you know the answer?
Spolier: 5 years, with more than 80 drafts.
Hallelujah was covered by more than 300 artists.
Worths Worth Contemplating:
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in.
~Leonard Cohen, Anthem
This was a gift... It's a dot drawing of Leonard Cohen. Amazing, isn't it?
Reflection:
Do you see a difference in seeking excellence versus seeking perfection?
Deliberate Practice Webinar
We've just completed our 10-week Deliberate Practice web-based workshop with folks from all over the world. I'm so thrilled to engage with like-minded people and learn from each other.
Coming up, join me and my colleague Scott Miller for an hour of conversation and Q & A on using deliberate practice to improve your therapeutic effectiveness.
No cost.
Date: February 17th, 2021 08:00 (Central Standard Time)
Serving the First 100 People.
WELCOME DEVOTED THERAPISTS NEW ON THE FRONTIERS!
If you've just joined us, feel free to check out the back catalogue of Frontiers of Psychotherapists Development (FPD).
Also, if you want to see the past newsletters, click here
In case you missed it, see past series on Devotion to the Craft:
My other blog is Full Circles: Reflections on Living