The Struggle is Real … But So is the Privilege
One of the most enduring images in Western culture is that of the tortured artist. Whether it’s Van Gogh’s emotional difficulties, Michelangelo’s famous hot temper, or Hemingway comparing writing to bleeding, creative people often view their art in terms of suffering.
While suffering certainly can help us produce art, it’s not the only element in the creative process (or even the most helpful one). Art is not just a journey of pain, angst, and struggle.
I believe most of this creative “struggle” is in our heads.
So how do we change our perspective? How can we begin to frame our creativity in a more positive way? One simple way to do this is by replacing the word “struggle” with the word “privilege.”
Let me give you an example from my two primary creative outlets: guitar and writing.
The writer’s “struggle”
As a writer, I may sometimes have these feelings:
- It’s a struggle to write every day.
- It’s a struggle to learn the process of self-publishing a book.
- It’s a struggle to edit my work and put it out there for others to read.
- It’s a struggle say “no” to other activities and make time to write.
- It’s a struggle to read a book or take a course that will help me improve.
- It’s a struggle to do work for clients.
Instead, I can frame it this way:
- It’s a privilege to write every day.
- It’s a privilege to learn how to self-publish a book.
- It’s a privilege to edit my work and put it out there for others to read.
- It’s a privilege say “no” to other activities and make time to write.
- It’s a privilege to read a book or take a course that will help me improve.
- It’s a privilege to do work for clients.
The guitarist’s “struggle”
What about a different type of art? As a guitarist, I may sometimes have these feelings:
- It’s a struggle to make time to practice.
- It’s a struggle to learn new chords, scales, and voicings.
- It’s a struggle to drag my equipment to a gig, set it up, and play for other people.
- It’s a struggle to memorize worship songs so I can play and lead more effectively.
- It’s a struggle to save money and buy new strings or even a new guitar.
Instead, I can frame it this way:
- It’s a privilege to make time to practice.
- It’s a privilege to learn new chords, scales, and voicings.
- It’s a privilege to take my equipment to a gig, set it up, and play for other people.
- It’s a privilege to memorize worship songs so I can play and lead more effectively.
- It’s a privilege to save money and buy new strings or even a new guitar.
Does creating art sometimes feel like a struggle? Is it painful? Can your suffering play a role in your creative work? Of course.
But the same is true for anything worth doing. Parenting, relationships, leadership, and pretty much any good thing in life all involve struggle, pain, and suffering. But those roles and experiences are also a privilege and an honor.
Thankful, not tortured
It’s time that we stop viewing ourselves as tortured artists whose creative work sucks the life out of us. That’s not a healthy dynamic. In fact, it’s a recipe for disappointment and burnout.
Art should be a gateway to love, creativity, abundance, and joy in your life. If your art only brings sadness, frustration, and feelings of being tortured, you’re not doing it correctly. (Or maybe you just need to shift to a different type of creative work.)
Instead, we can see our creative work as a privilege that replenishes our souls and helps serve and inspire others.
There is a lot of talk about privilege today. Perhaps the greatest privilege is knowing that you are a child of God, blessed with amazing gifts, who has something wonderful and meaningful to offer the world.
We are blessed, not just broken.
We are abundant, not just average.
We are thankful, not just tortured.
Yes, the struggle is real. But so is the privilege.
If you are looking for a great resource filled with practical advice on being more creative and productive, I recommend checking out my book The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey.
