Comments on: Inside the All Is Lost Moment

By: Stephanie Levendoski

Stephanie Levendoski — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:49:53 +0000

I don’t know what I’m going to do about it but I have to keep trying.

By: Solid gold creativity

Solid gold creativity — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:58:18 +0000

Really enjoyed this post. Thank you.

By: David Y.B. Kaufmann

David Y.B. Kaufmann — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:18:20 +0000

Don’t know where else to put this (other than Facebook – see there), but here’s a cool reference: http://writerunboxed.com/2012/07/28/social-media-your-shadow-career/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WriterUnboxed+%28Writer+Unboxed%29

By: BigMG

BigMG — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 11:14:18 +0000

I totally agree with Steven’s analysis (as usual).
The ‘All is Lost’ moment can also be described as ‘Hitting Rock Bottom’. Having worked with people who ’suffer’ from ‘addictions’, of one sort or another, you soon discover that addiction is mostly delusion.
I’ve seen people show up places utterly gone and thinking that nobody will notice.
When the moment comes that they’ve hit rock bottom is when their delusions are beaten out of them and they have nowhere to hide.
When society coddles such people with words like, suffer, addiction, and other excuse filled pablum, they only prevent or further delay that All Is Lost moment.
The All Is Lost moment for anyone is the best time of their life, because all self deception is blown away.

By: Mary Cronk Farrell

Mary Cronk Farrell — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 04:05:04 +0000

Thanks so much. Terrific post. My first visit to your site after your book was mentioned on Writer Unboxed by Porter Anderson.

By: David Y.B. Kaufmann

David Y.B. Kaufmann — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:05:42 +0000

One further thought: You wrote, “Because the hero, in movies and in real life, doesn’t “win.” ”

The All is Lost/Breakthrough might then be seen as a realization that it’s (an indefinite pronoun and to be verb) not about winning, but about being. Or perhaps we win when we do, when we perform the truth within.

By: David Y.B. Kaufmann

David Y.B. Kaufmann — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:58:44 +0000

I’ve been trying to find a way to enter this conversation, to add some thought or insight or experience or metaphor or reference. I thought of referencing the book of Job, for instance, but that seems obvious. We spend our lives trying to define ourselves, and it’s scary because we are indefinable. And the “All is Lost” moment is also the “Who am I?” or “Where am I?” moment – and the answer is always, “I don’t know.” Maybe that’s why the truth – the Breakthrough – is an epiphany – a perception of the essence or a revelation of the Divine within.
Didn’t someone once say that only by losing the self can we preserve (or find) the self?
Thanks again, as always, for thought-provoking and inspiring words.

By: Steven Pressfield

Steven Pressfield — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:40:22 +0000

Jason, it sounds like you are smack in the middle of “the good old days.” Your site looks great and you are banging out some really interesting stuff. Good luck and keep hammering!

By: Rod Roth

Rod Roth — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:04:45 +0000

Right on the money, Steve

Semper Fi

A friend of Bill

By: Jason Lee

Jason Lee — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:11:15 +0000

January 16th last year I broke completely. Turned the gas cooker on and took a series of long deep breaths till I couldn’t remember anymore. I woke up to my surprise.

On tuesday I move into an old unfurnished remote irish cottage, I’m taking stuff there today in a borrowed car. It’ll be my home and studio until March next year. Then it’s being knocked and rebuilt by the owners.

At present there is no electricity or running water, there’s a water-well thats needs power for the pump. The electricity company will connect it but it’ll take them some time. By tuesday? There are forms for forms to fill out and cash up front.

Three years of being bullied, including violent threats, viewed with suspicion, and losing connections in the fragile environment of a small community. My day to day life, love, friendships, income and health have a ll taken hits. Too many. For too long. January 16th 2011 was my all is lost moment.

I’m broke, exhausted and still feel isolated.

All is lost again? Throughout the entire ordeal I got up each day and made my art. Savings substituted lack of income with frugality. But they’ve gone now. All is lost moment?

Food, hygiene and rest will take front of stage. How I make my art will change, there’ll be old and new surprises in the process. The electricity will get connected or I’ll find another place. My relationship will find a way that works for both of us, with or without each other, we’ll figure it out. Very little will be easy for a while to come. There will be no room to fool myself.

All is lost? I haven’t got it all figured out yet. I’m in the middle of it and can’t see the edges right now. But 10 minutes ago this comment reply box was empty, just like the blank page or the blank canvas or the empty dance hall. I’m going to shake my hands in the air, click my fingers 51 times and fill these empty spaces.

Thanks to you all.
Jason Lee