Suffering is justified as soon as it becomes the raw material of beauty." Jean-Paul Sartre. So do we need to suffer to be creative? ...
The tortured artist mythology is an ancient and enduring notion: that art comes mainly from suffering, and artists are likely to be emotionally fraught and even need their pain to create. Support for this view at: Pain and suffering and the artist
Our hypothesis that suffering is one way, and in the arts - a common one,
· in which the artists supporting abilities or capabilities
· are formed or strengthened
· to enable him/her to be successful.
What is the significance of this for business??
Trauma is in no way the only characteristic required, but it may play a decisive role in the development of those things that will eventually discriminate between the arty person and the successful artist.
The causal loop diagram below illuminates this view that “trauma” or suffering, is one of the drivers that might eventually lead to successful creating. This is not to say that it is necessary or sufficient, merely that it can play a significant role when conditions are right.
It appears from the above that traumatic experiences can affect the creativity of an individual in two ways.
Firstly, as one of a class of experiences that provide the creative individual with a new perspective on life, and so removes the fear of the consequences of failure. This allows the creative individual to perform without barriers.
The second effect is as a creative stimulant. A traumatic experience can provide energy and inspiration that drives the creative session. We do think that if people embrace the journey that trauma brings, they are likely to evaluate what truly matters in life, and thereby, may be more willing to step out of the confined parameters of 'a normal life', and start experimenting, taking more risks, living it up and creating experiences that are more deeply fulfilling.
But what about business? Rather than traumatise people, one might simulate the conditions of uncertainty, ambiguity and introspection that trauma brings. Although this might be stressful at first, if it is embedded as a culture the organisation might find itself being creative much quicker than taking the “nurture/caring etc.” route.
The conclusion is that “disruptive initiatives” may have a role in moving a business to creativity quicker than by trying to facilitate it through more supportive environments. Once the business is there this environment will have to be supported and nurtured and won’t be sustained through suffering.
"Big crisis will only reveal the stuff we are made of; it won't put anything into us"- Oswald Chambers
