This is part 2 of a two part blog series "Does Creativity Feel Dangerous to You". CLICK HERE TO READ 'PART 1'

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I love a good thriller—especially a psychological drama. Not horror or anything gory, but a movie or show that intelligently explores a crime or a tangled web of human experience. So much art that I enjoy walks the edge of beauty and pain. It explores complex emotions, contradictions in the human condition, and sprinkles humor along the way. These aspects have informed my own creative work over time.

The films I have directed/produced have centered around themes of grief, aging, and underlying trauma that contributed to addictions. Confronting these themes and crafting the film content in an intimate way was compelling, exciting, and, at times, very difficult.

Fear and discomfort often accompany me when I engage in the creative process. Despite my teaching/coaching work with others, all the tools I have, and knowing full well the benefit of art-making, it can be hard to move through the resistance to take the space to create. I know I am in good company, as this is a big complaint of so many creatives.

The obstacles have been internal and external, such as:

• If I stop and sink into my innermost thoughts, I have to feel more, face more truth, and there are times I would rather stay on the surface.
• Facing the reality of pain that people have endured when hearing clients' stories or through film interviews can bring up strong feelings.
• Crafting content around traumatic events can be very provocative and intense.
• Collaborating with others in a creative project (and mind you - films are extremely collaborative) can be fraught at times resulting in disagreements around ideas and execution, and/or facing competition or power dynamics.

And, it is not just the creating that takes energy; there is also the production and details that are involved with bringing art to the public. Bottom line, art-making can be demanding. Some people (myself included) can be obsessive and perfectionistic each step of the process. When this has happened to me, I have lost my equilibrium and can’t find balance. Then art-making is not healthy.

These are the moments that I want to give up altogether. When this happens, I try to take a time out for play, ease, and splendid distractions. However, I have found that I miss out on the richness of my art life if I don't take the opportunity to get back to the complexity and depth of my creative work when I've had a reset.

Tapping into both beauty and pain facilitates the artistic process and can allow us to tap into the most interesting and revealing aspects of life. And...when we honor this duality to source creative material in developing a project, we can make incredible art that moves people.

So...I promised some tips in Part 2: (Click here to read Part 1) 

To put it plainly, what works in art also works in any other endeavor when we are seeking success and balance:

1) Ask for help — if you are stuck, overwhelmed, and/or don’t know how to proceed, get some guidance from trusted friends who are also creatives, or a creative professional (like yours truly!).

2) Take it one step at a time and find some clear structure for the art process. A great book for writing and ‘art’ is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott that provides solid suggestions to stay with it.

3) Be mindful about who you collaborate with and how you divide up the work when creating with others. Team up with people who inspire you and are low drama, and/or make sure you get clear on boundaries around time and money exchange.

4) If you want to use art for catharsis, make sure you have a clear safety plan. Art-making is not a stand-in for therapy, but it can be a great accompaniment. Boldly transmute your pain into music or painting, etc. as long as you can hold on to your emotional grounding. If you venture into the dark forest, make sure you leave breadcrumbs so you can find your way back home. And, if the material you are confronting is too fraught and is causing distress, this may indicate that mental health support is necessary.

5) Accept that the inner critic, resistance, the emotional backlash, etc. are part of the experience for so many of us. I call these boobytraps 'the creative demons'.They are not inherently bad, we simply need to find effective ways to work with them and expect challenges along the path.

6) Commit to supportive rituals that soothe your nervous system so you can keep showing up. Take breaks, pace yourself and trust it is normal to crash around sometimes which is part of having an active mind and imagination. Let it be messy and imperfect. Mistakes and setbacks can bring out hidden gems.

As Rumi says in his poem The Guest House (translated by Coleman Barks):

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
...

And again, if things become too treacherous for you, reach out a hand. We’re here to lift each other up.

If there is anything that has helped you move beyond fear and the perceived danger of making art, please share. I love receiving comments and reflections.