Michaelangelo’s Commitment = Yours to Writing
Posted under: Italian Artist Michaelangelo’s artistic forte was sculpting. At a young age, he received a commission by Pope Julius II to create a papal tomb. Then plans changed. Instead of doing what he loved most, he was asked to work on a painting project instead. Disappointed, he nonetheless committed himself to the project.
For four years, Michaelangelo laid on his back in The Sistine Chapel, not only painting Jesus’s Apostles as requested, but also painting more than 400 figures and nine scenes from the book of Genesis. In the process, he damaged his eyes permanently and aged prematurely to the point that friends hardly recognized him. Michaelangelo’s commitment was as infamous as his talent. Driven by unwavering commitment, he pushed himself to create a living masterpiece.
To the marathoner, commitment means breaking through “the wall,” and running the last ten miles, despite the body’s pleas; to the father and mother, it means playing Hot Wheels or “Monster” even the day’s allotment of energy has been depleted. It means getting out of your comfort zone, and pushing through what marketeer Seth Godin calls “the dip.” It is what separates those who “want to be” and those who “really are.”
For the writer (and especially the working writer with works full time), it means sitting down to write even when your creativity is gone.
How do you push yourself and improve your level of commitment?
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