Of all of the (terrible) myths about creativity, one of the most insidious and harmful is that artists are over-sensitive.
Sensitivity is a strange currency. You see it used to both exclude people from the arts (“You’re not sensitive enough to be an artist!”) and include people but simultaneously dismiss them (“You’re just an over-sensitive artist!”)
Truly, under these fraught conditions it’s amazing any of us ever make art!
Sensitivity warfare is made possible by one giant misconception: We believe sensitivity and strength are opposites. Listen close and you’ll hear it: Whenever someone calls you too sensitive, what are they really saying but “You should be stronger.” Whenever someone applauds your strength, what are they saying but you’ve surmounted any sensitivity leanings.
In truth, sensitivity and strength are not opposites. We all have a degree of sensitivity and a degree of strength. Commonly, artists tend to be both extremely sensitive and extremely strong. It is precisely this mix of traits that allows us to to both our most astute and brave work.