Burn The Ship

A ship captain approaches a shore. There are several hundred men under his command. They have come to take over an island. They are outnumbered and the island's inhabitants have the advantage because they have lived on the island for hundreds of years and they have more weaponry. As the men walk onto shore, frightened but forging ahead, the captain turns around and says, "burn the ship."

I don't like war. I believe that civilized people can find a smoother way to conflict resolution. But, what stuck with me about this story was the resolve for victory. The captain knew that any thoughts of retreating to their ship and aborting the mission would detract from the energy they needed to be present in battle. The same is true for the mission we have come to fulfill with our art and creativity. The mind can always tell us--it's too hard, so many people fail at [this] or [that], the odds are against me. It can keep you thinking about returning to the ship. But, to resolve in your mind to face circumstances, come what may, and to move through any obstacle to live the artist's life that you have envisioned --the power is in focusing on the mission. The great philosopher Howard Thurman says, "Keep fresh before me the moments of high resolve, that in good times or in tempests, I may not forget that to which my life is committed." We have within us everything we need to create our film, sculpture, play, musical or that incredible design. Stop looking back. Resolve it in yourself to burn the ship.