I’ve taken on a 30-week writing challenge. The idea is to write one piece each week, in any form or length, on any topic I choose.
It’s been a bit of an insane journey but also quite interesting. It’s given me a chance to observe myself more closely. I’ve realised that when I’m distressed or extremely emotional, I hear a powerful urge within me to write. At those times, I can write more productively, and I’m usually satisfied with what I deliver.
On the other hand, when I’m feeling comfortable, happy, and content with everything, I don’t know what to write or even want to write at all. My mind is blank. There’s no need or motivation pushing me to put words on the page. I don’t want to write. I refuse to write.
I don’t know if you’ve had a similar experience. As for me, anytime I want to write something dark while feeling cheerful, I have to isolate myself from the outside world (solitude). I’ll put on certain music, look at old photos, reawaken some inner pain, and bring it back to life. I have to re-experience that hurt, step-by-step, as freshly as before. It’s not easy at all. I’m pretty scared of facing that pain again. That’s why I often feel an urge to write, but I’m also very afraid to write. Even though I don’t want to, pain seems a necessary condition for me to create.
I believe the saying “Great art comes from great pain“. Many famous artists created their best works during the most difficult periods in their lives. Van Gogh created his brilliant, swirling paintings while suffering from mental illness and poverty. Stephen King’s near-death experience is seen as a source of inspiration for his novels, like “Lisey’s Story.”
However, I’m not claiming that art can only arise from suffering or that art born from pain is better. The thing is, art created without suffering usually doesn’t turn out very well.
To me, the definition of a talented artist who can create fantastic artwork is someone who has experienced the full range of human emotions: joy, fear, shock, rage, empathy, appreciation, love, jealousy, guilt, or suffering. Only then can they discover something incredible from a tiny moment.
Life is challenging. At some point, you will suffer. Life will break you down. Nobody can protect you from that pain, nor should you try to avoid it. You have to go through. You have to feel. You have to risk your heart being hurt. You have to make mistakes to become more tolerant. You have to overcome something within yourself, just for the sake of overcoming, not to manifest or attract anything grander from the universe. It’s the reason you’re here on earth.
The last thing I want to say is. If you’re going through a hard time, know that your pain can be transformed into something beautiful that inspires and uplifts others. Try to find some way. It can be any form you want – a painting, a song, a story, a poem, a handmade outfit, a short film script, or an audio recording. Great art so often blooms from the depths of human suffering and turmoil.
May all the pains you’ve felt be vibrant splashes of colour for stunning paintings.
Jasmine.
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