Going outside our comfort zone to be more creative
artists and therapists on embracing discomfort
How can choosing to push ourselves beyond what is ‘safe’ and comfortable help us be more creative?
“Being an artist is about living in the uncomfortable zone.” Mihaela Ivan Holtz, Psy.D., LMFT.
“Understanding the difference between the discomfort that comes with growth and the discomfort signaling a boundary issue is key.” Julie Bjelland, LMFT
"I was so much more comfortable being in my books.” Trauma recovery physician Aimie Apigian
“You do not need your fear in the realm of creative expression. Seriously, you don’t.” Elizabeth Gilbert
“If it doesn’t scare the crap out of you, then you’re not doing the right thing.” Sandra Bullock
While many of us may not like being uncomfortable physically or emotionally, a number of artists and therapists talk about the values of embracing discomfort.
~~~
Finding Creativity in the Uncomfortable
Psychotherapist Mihaela Ivan Holtz helps creative people in TV/Film, performing and fine arts.
She also writes about the pleasures and emotional challenges of being creative on her site Creative Minds Psychotherapy.
Here is an excerpt from one of her related articles:
“Over and over again, you find yourself having to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the uncomfortable.
“Yes, being an artist is about living in the uncomfortable zone. You don’t know how your art will be received in the world…”
How to Find Comfort in the Uncomfortable So You Can Live Fully As an Artist By Mihaela Ivan Holtz, Psy.D., LMFT | Therapy for creatives
~~~~
“Your fear will always show up.”
In her book "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" Elizabeth Gilbert points out that “if you didn’t have any fear, you would lead a short, crazy, stupid life.
“You would walk into traffic. You would jump into giant waves off the coast of Hawaii, despite being a poor swimmer…So, yes, you absolutely do need your fear, in order to protect you from actual dangers."
But, she adds, “you do not need your fear in the realm of creative expression. Seriously, you don’t.”
She notes “Just because you don’t need your fear when it comes to creativity, that doesn’t mean fear won’t show up.
“Trust me, your fear will always show up, especially when you’re trying to be inventive or innovative...”
It "very much needs to be dealt with” in order to do our creative work.
~~~~
Discomfort from growth or from a boundary issue
The Challenge of Distinguishing Discomfort
by Julie Bjelland
“Understanding the difference between the discomfort that comes with growth and the discomfort signaling a boundary issue is key.
Growth-related discomfort is often linked to the fear of the unknown and stepping out of your comfort zone, marked by apprehension and excitement.
In contrast, boundary-related discomfort arises from feelings of being undervalued, overstretched, or infringed upon, accompanied by negative emotions such as anxiety or resentment.
Strategies for Distinguishing Discomfort
Reflect on the Source of Discomfort: Identify whether it stems from a place of growth or a boundary issue.
Assess Your Emotional Response: Growth often brings mixed emotions with a hopeful outlook, whereas persistent negative feelings mark boundary infringements.
Consider the Duration and Intensity: Growth discomfort fades with adaptation, while boundary discomfort persists or worsens.
Evaluate the Impact on Your Well-being: Growth challenges contribute to personal development, whereas boundary issues detract from it.
Listen to Your Intuition: Trust your gut feelings when something doesn't feel right.
Seek Feedback: Conversations with trusted individuals can offer new insights.
Observe Patterns: Recognizing recurring feelings in similar situations can help identify boundary issues.”
More Resources on Boundaries by high sensitivity therapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT:
Free Webinar: How to Set Healthy Boundaries and Why it’s Essential for our Wellness - see list of ongoing webinars.
Her quotes above are from her post Empowering Boundaries: Harnessing the Wisdom of Your Body in the The Sensitive & Neurodivergent Blog section of her site.
~~~~~~~~
Comfort and Discomfort and Trauma
Trauma recovery physician Aimie Apigian, MD refers to the learned helplessness from attachment trauma early in life:
"That trauma response was actually our main adaptive mechanism to survive that [traumatic] time because we couldn’t run away. We couldn’t walk away.
"We couldn’t even crawl away yet. Right? Like, we’re just babies. So, the only way to survive micro misattunements was to disconnect from our body that felt so uncomfortable.
"And so it started to form this habit and this habit of the disconnect is this habit of going into the trauma response."
She also refers to being a student, and - like many of us - avoiding discomfort:
"I was so much more comfortable being in my books. Give me something to study, give me something to learn, give me something to read, but don’t give me anything to feel. Right?"
From interview: How Trauma Gets Trapped in the Body w/ Dr. Aimie Apigian, by Emma McAdam, LMFT.
Related video Is it Stress or is it Overwhelm? Trauma recovery expert Aimie Apigian explains.
Resources by Aimie Apigian, MD:
▶️ TheFoundational Journey for addressing stored trauma in the body.
📖 Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma - free guide
~~~~~~~~~~
Over the years of reading and watching interviews with actors, I have been struck by how many of these artists talk about choosing and embracing fear and discomfort.
Here are a few examples - in the text and in the short video:
“I want to continue to grow…and the only way to do that is to keep stepping outside of your comfort zone.” Vanessa Hudgens
“I don’t do anything anymore that feels safe. If it doesn’t scare the crap out of you, then you’re not doing the right thing.” Actor Sandra Bullock (Today,com March 21, 2005)
~~~~
~~~~