Trauma and creativity — how connected are they?
It’s pretty much impossible to ignore the trauma that’s being flashed across our screens every day. It’s become far too routine and comfortable for us to observe people being abused, kidnapped, assaulted or even murdered through a post on social media.
It impacts all of us differently, but make no mistake, it does have an impact. For us creatives, I think the impact is unique. Our gift allows us to breathe in this trauma, interpret and transform it into something creative, and then breathe it out into something beautiful for the world to see. Even if we choose not to include the instances of trauma in our work, the absence of it becomes a statement in itself, especially when there are public events that capture the attention of the world and make it all but impossible to ignore.
Emotionally, however, we need to remember to give ourselves a break. Our sensitivity as creatives is our superpower, but it’s also our kryptonite. If we don’t manage it properly, it can become equally as debilitating as it can be liberating. And unless you are a reporter, you’re under no obligation to constantly immerse yourself in the world’s trauma and create pieces that reflect that damage.
You no doubt have your own wounds to heal and that should always be your priority. And while our art is at least in part a means for our personal healing, be conscious of how frequently you are interacting with the wounds of the world.
CRY
Trauma and creativity — how connected are they? was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
