{"id":26491,"date":"2021-06-08T09:52:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T13:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calepin.co\/?p=26491"},"modified":"2021-06-08T09:52:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T13:52:02","slug":"pain-and-creative-expression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calepin.co\/?p=26491","title":{"rendered":"Pain And Creative Expression | A Way To Heal and Create Something Great"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PainWhen your heart is thoroughly gutted with some terrible shock or tragedy, there is a rawness that begs expression of some kind \u2014 whether through art, a brutally honest piece of poetry, or a song that spills your raging pain.<\/p>\n

Creative expression is a healthy outlet<\/a> for all sorts of emotions and can lead to some of the best art and works of literature ever written. Ask Van Gogh, Picasso, and Beethoven who pounded the piano with his head next to the wood to feel the vibrations. He created such fantastic and well-beloved music, hearing it only in his head. Ludwig somehow turned his struggle into some epic pieces that satisfy many musicians today.<\/p>\n

As a classically trained musician (on piano and clarinet) myself, it always thrilled me to pound out some of his pieces that lent themselves to expressing frustration, anger, sadness, beauty, romance, and so many other feelings. That said, I had no idea that when I suggested this article topic, I\u2019d land right in the middle of the worst pain I\u2019ve ever felt in my life. The kind of pain that twists your insides like a knife and makes you feel like you swallowed shattered glass. Confession: My hope is that writing this in honesty will help fuel your creative work as much as mine!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

So, what is this mysterious link between pain and creativity?<\/h2><\/div>

It\u2019s simple: your heart. Every human has a deep need to express themselves as they are and be heard, felt, acknowledged, and accepted. Pain is universal, and so is creativity.<\/p>\n

There is something about seeing someone else\u2019s pain in a painting or hearing it in a song that moves you, touches you in a place where you feel it too. It\u2019s almost like belonging \u2014 you feel less alone whether you\u2019re ecstatic or miserable.<\/p>\n

\"creative<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Pain takes you in one of two directions \u2014 far down, or somewhere new<\/h2><\/div>

My pain is taking me both ways. Down to depths I hadn\u2019t thought I\u2019d ever feel, and to a place in my life where I must make decisions that I\u2019d never thought would be put in front of me. It is my choice whether I will let it kill me or let it free me and empower me to rise above what I\u2019m facing.<\/p>\n

Pain is uncomfortable (to say the least!) and that is the point. It says something. It says that you\u2019re alive. You care about something. You\u2019re human and you have a heart. It says that something must change. The pressure forces new questions, perspectives, directions, and possibilities on your mind, and sure, some of them are downright awful to consider. But, in it, you can still decide who you are and who you will be.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

How to turn your pain into something constructive<\/h2><\/div>

I don\u2019t have a 5-step solution, a recipe, or a life-changing method here, except to encourage you to start somewhere, no matter how small. When life hurts like hell, you need to do something to care for yourself<\/a>, to remind yourself that you matter, and somehow reassure yourself of hope and that you will be okay again.<\/p>\n

Personally, I do this by listening to music. When words float into my head on sleepless nights, I write them down until I feel a release. I create T-shirt ideas with snarky sayings on them for fun (because sarcasm is also a creative coping mechanism). Other times when I just want a mindless break, I build a puzzle.<\/p>\n

\"creative<\/p>\n

Years ago, I wrote mental health blog posts to pen down how far I\u2019ve come and to encourage others. Writing something that felt true to my experience and my journey was helpful, and the thought of it possibly helping someone brought meaning and purpose to my pain.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

How do you express pain through art?<\/h2><\/div>

You tell it, show it, color it, express it as it is. No holding back. No matter how brutal it is.<\/p>\n

You should bother creating something \u2014no matter how geeky, stupid, funny, silly, useless, profound, sad, or strange it may seem to yourself or anyone else. It\u2019s okay to hurt and it\u2019s okay to figure out what works to help you get through it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Why you should bother getting creative<\/h2><\/div>