Architect Your Own Experience


In his book "The War of Art”, David Pressfield identifies a force called resistance. He describes resistance as the counter force that prevents us from starting and completing any pursuit, large or small, that is healthy, expansive, positive, creative, or in any way good -- for ourselves or mankind.

Recently, I took some much needed time recharge my battery. I thought about my life, and developed a nagging sense that I had given into resistance -- and was a bit off course. Life certainly wasn’t awful – just complacent on many levels.

I decided it was time for a positive course correction.

We all struggle with resistance. It’s easy to ignore the subtle inner callings, urgings and tugs, which threaten to distract us from the more routine, convenient or dominant responsibilities in our lives.

Take a sabbatical!
Donate time to charity.
Write an article on what you’ve learned.
Get back to the gym.
Stop to watch the sunset.
Fix something that's broken.
DO SOMETHING NEW.


It occurred to me that heeding many of these tugs, callings and urgings could be in the critical path to a more purpose driven and satisfying life. Overcoming resistance, therefore, was something worth fighting for – something I needed to do more actively.

It's easy to forget in the midst of the tyrrany of the urgent, or the call of the convenient that we are all architects of our own experience. Sometimes that means we have to challenge ourselves to get off the "hampster wheel" of activity to stretch ourselves personally and professionally. Sometimes we have to climb out of the cage entirely.

Recently, I decided to listen more intently to those inner urges and take on a few new challenges. Live Path is one such undertaking. I know it will be cathartic for me, and I hope it will be marginally interesting and insightful for you.

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LEIGH DURST

LEIGH DURST
I’m Leigh Durst, a 20 year veteran in business, operations, customer strategy, ecommerce, digital & social media and marketing. Simply put, I’m a strategist that helps companies (start-up to blue chip) achieve business shift, create more compelling online and offline experiences. I also write, speak and teach about experience design and next-generation business. I’m a futurist, visionary, strategist, doer and connector with a passion for people and helping others. When I’m not on the road, you’ll find me in the San Francisco bay area, working, beaching it and hanging out with my family and dog.

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