Creativity and Pain

Van Gogh, mentally ill and poor, painted over 2100 pieces over his lifetime. Mozart suffered health problems and financial difficulties and produced over 600 musical masterpieces. Frida Kahlo, disabled by a horrific tram accident, left her with numerous broken bones and inability to bear any children, still toured the world and became the first Mexican female artist to sell a painting to the Lourve in Paris. So many historic artists with lasting legacies have such stories. The pain and art are intertwined in ways that romanticise the notion of being an artist. It could make one think, that one must suffer at great lengths to create a body of work that lasts through the ages.

So, does all creativity come from pain? And if these iconic figures all suffered so much to create their work, why do we idolise them, and assume they are superhuman? Were they simply expressing their pain and emotions in a medium that they were gifted with or had access to?

It’s worthwhile to think about the relationship between creativity, innovation and the pain we experience in life. Instead of thinking that these people were different or super talented in their crafts (which no doubt they were talented), we can consciously think they were just like us, with self control and discipline to channel their pain through their work. In the same way, it can be possible for us to channel any inkling of hopelessness and adversity into an opportunity for growth, or contribution to the world?

What can you do to make your own pain, into an opportunity for growth?