![\"Art](\"https:\/\/emmacameron.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Art-Wounds-Creativity-Scars-3.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nArt Wounds and the Sensitive Person<\/h2>\n
In my last post, I wrote about the stories we live by, that stop us feeling empowered to be artists (You can read it here)<\/a>. Underneath our ‘Why I can’t become an artist’ stories, art wounds<\/strong> are usually to be found, especially if we are sensitive by nature.<\/p>\n Art wounds –\u00a0Brene Brown calls them ‘creativity scars’<\/a>\u00a0– are painful, shame-soaked memories of times when our budding creativity was dismissed or stamped upon. Usually these memories involve a parent, sibling, friend or teacher who was unable to value and make a positive emotional space for our youthful art-making.<\/p>\n In order for our art wounds to be processed, transformed and healed, we need to gently and carefully open up and share them with someone understanding and empathic.<\/p>\n If you are a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) you will take things in very deeply, in a way that a non-HSP might struggle to understand. We HSP’s may feel ashamed about our sensitive nature, but in fact we simply possess a set of characteristics that have their up-sides and their downsides, and don’t need to be judged or evaluated.<\/p>\n You can read more about the HSP trait here.<\/a><\/p>\nSensitive people often carry 'art wounds'. Here's how to heal them <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n Because the original wound happened in the context of a relationship, it’s usually necessary to heal in the context of a relationship – although it doesn’t have to be the same person who inflicted the original wound.<\/p>\n Choose the person carefully. They may be a friend or loved one, or alternatively a psychotherapist, counsellor or spiritual leader.<\/p>\n The important thing is that whoever you open up your art wounds with, is able to be a caring, empathic witness. They need to be able to listen to you without judgement, and not try to fix or dismiss your feelings. It may help if they are an HSP themselves, although that isn’t essential.<\/p>\n It’s crucial to use large doses of self-compassion as you do this work on yourself. The art wound itself is painful, and we don’t want to be adding to the pain by shooting a ‘second arrow’ at ourselves (the ‘second arrow’ is where we judge and condemn ourselves for having the pain).<\/p>\n As you recall the original interaction, notice the sensations you feel in your body (memories associated with art wounds are largely held in the body).<\/p>\n Gently enquire into what the feelings are. There’s likely to be shame, and you will probably notice sadness and anger in there too.<\/p>\n Shame<\/strong> sensations differ from person to person, but often include a sense of wanting to curl in on yourself, along with heat in your face, tightening in your throat, and restricted breathing.<\/p>\n Anger<\/strong> may come with an associated urge to hit out, or to crush something or someone.<\/p>\n Stay with the feelings, but remember you\u00a0don’t<\/em>\u00a0have to act them out. Just see if you can allow the waves of sensations to flow through your body until they subside. (This sounds easy, but for many people it really isn’t, so do be kind to yourself and don’t try and force your way through in one session).<\/p>\n See if you can attach any other words to the feelings. For example, you might elaborate on a feeling of sadness<\/strong>\u00a0using words like these: blue<\/em>, empty<\/em>, weighed-down<\/em>, burdened<\/em>, heavy<\/em>, unmoored<\/em>, bleak<\/em>, or down<\/em>. Check which words fit, and which aren’t exactly right.<\/p>\n Humour used prematurely and non-empathically can be shaming and retraumatising, so timing and the quality of the relationship are all-important. But when art wounds have been processed, sometimes humour will naturally bubble up. This can feel very healing and connecting.<\/p>\nHeal your art wounds and creativity scars in these 5 steps <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n I hope this has been helpful, and that you can find a way to process, heal and transform your art wounds.<\/p>\n You might like to research the Japanese art of Kintsugi<\/a>, in which broken and cracked pots get repaired, strengthened and made more beautiful through the addition of gold seams. This can be a good metaphor for the transformation of art wounds.<\/p>\nExamples of art wounds\/ creativity scars include:<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nHow Can You Process and Heal Your Art Wounds?<\/h2>\n
1. Find Someone Who Can Be Alongside You<\/h4>\n
2. Use Self-Compassion<\/h4>\n
3. Bring Awareness to the Feelings<\/h4>\n
4. Find the Words<\/h4>\n
5. Humour May Arise – When the Time is Right<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSome Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n