Think of your favorite musical artist. Got it?
For me. It’s U2. Following close behind would be artists like Foo Fighters, Tobymac, David and Melissa Helser and more.
Now, think about that artist’s body of work.
U2 has been making music since 1976. Talk about a “body of work”?
I won’t list their entire catalogue. But regardless of where you are in terms of musical tastes and preferences, you’ve heard their art. (Their songs have served as a soundtrack to my life. So many moments or periods in my life have been marked by their music.)
Albums include:
Boy (1980)
October (1981)
War (1983)
The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
The Joshua Tree (1987)
Rattle and Hum (1988)
Achtung Baby (1993)
All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
No Line On The Horizon (2009)
Songs include:
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
Pride (In the Name of Love)
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Beautiful Day
With or Without You
Mysterious Ways
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Moment of Surrender
Even Better Than The Real Thing
Walk On
I could keep going…
I wrote all of that because I just finished Steven Pressfield’s book, Put You’re A** Where Your Heart Wants To Be.
It’s a really good book. Not SP’s best. But really, really good. So good, in fact, that I was moved — to the point of tears — when I read these words:
“YOU TOO HAVE A BODY OF WORK. It exists inside you, on the Plane of Potentiality.
“Are you a writer? This body or work exists, like books on a bookshelf. Close your eyes. You can see them.
“Are you a musician? These works exist like albums, like concerts, like performances. Listen with your inner ear. You can hear them.
“These bodies of work exist as alternative futures. They are THAT WHICH CAN BE . . . and SHOULD BE . . . and WANT TO BE.
“But they are NOT that which is GUARANTEED TO BE.” —Steven Pressfield [1]
In other words, it’s up to YOU and ME to make it happen, to bring our body of work into existence. To make it reality.
I have to sit down at a keyboard.
Someone else has to pick up a hammer.
Someone else has to teach the class.
You have to sling on a guitar and belt out a song.
I’m glad four teenagers from Dublin put their a** where their heart wanted to be. (Using Steven Pressfield’s language.)
I’m thankful they didn’t let…
—fear of failure,
—criticism from haters, and,
—the relentless pull of procrastination
…keep them from writing, playing, singing and putting their art into this world.
This world is a better place because they took a risk, took action and leaned into their passion.
It could be a better place because of…YOU.
So, go ahead…
Start the business.
Write the book.
Make the phone call.
Sing your song.
Raise your voice.
Build the house.
Do the math.
Teach the class.
Share the message.
Live your purpose.
Never forget:
“…YOU are GOD’S MASTERPIECE — [His POIEMA — His WORK OF ART],
created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He planned in advance for you.”
—EPHESIANS 2:10
So, in the words of one of my favorite songs by my favorite band.
“One love, one blood
One life, you got to do what you should
One life, with each other
Sisters, brothers.” —U2, ONE
You, too, have a body of work.
Make it happen.
Thanks for the challenge, Steven Pressfield.
[1] Pressfield, Steven. Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be (p. 56). Sarsaparilla Media LLC. Kindle Edition.