"The Myth of the Tortured Artist: Do You Need to Suffer to Create? – Avoiding Gollum’s Fate in Your Creative Journey"
One of the most toxic ideas about creativity is that you need to suffer in order to be successful. It’s a belief that has seeped into artistic culture, glorifying pain as a necessary ingredient for meaningful work. Sure, overcoming challenges builds character and can inspire creative expression, but treating suffering as essential to creativity misses the mark entirely.
It reminds me of how Gollum treats the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. At first, it seems like a gift—giving him power and invisibility—but it doesn’t take long before he’s consumed by it, losing himself completely. The glorification of suffering works the same way. If suffering becomes the thing we chase, the thing we believe makes us special, it doesn’t empower us—it erodes us. In the end, Gollum’s obsession leads him to destruction, leaping into a volcano in pursuit of his “precious” (spoiler alert: he doesn’t survive).
The point is, suffering isn’t something to seek out. It’s not the secret sauce to creativity. It’s not going to give you any sustainable benefits. Suffering is just a part of life—one we will inevitably encounter without needing to manufacture it for the sake of art.
Suffering vs. Challenge: A Crucial Distinction
Before we get too deep into The Lord of the Rings analogy, let’s take a step back and define what suffering actually is. How would you distinguish between suffering and challenge? Reflect on your own life experiences. What comes to mind?
Here’s how I define it: suffering is an experience that overwhelms us, pushing us beyond our capacity to cope, leading to an internal collapse. It’s not just hardship—it’s hardship that we are not equipped to recover from on our own. Many people seek therapy for precisely this reason: they’ve experienced something so devastating—a relationship ending, the death of a loved one, an unhealthy dynamic with a parent or boss—that they need support to process and heal. These are not the kinds of wounds that should be picked at endlessly for the sake of artistic inspiration. These are experiences that require care, patience, and recovery.
Challenge, on the other hand, is different. Challenges are difficult experiences that push us, but that we have the tools to navigate. They shape us, build resilience, and teach us lessons without breaking us down completely. Importantly, what qualifies as a challenge versus suffering is subjective—what one person can handle on their own might completely overwhelm another. We all have different strengths, vulnerabilities, and thresholds for adversity.
Another way to think about it: suffering leaves us stuck, unable to regulate ourselves or move forward, while challenge helps us grow. Creativity thrives in the space of challenge—not in the abyss of suffering.
The Lord of the Rings Approach to Suffering and Creativity
Now, back to Lord of the Rings! Let’s use Gollum, Frodo, and Sam as examples of how we can relate to suffering and its effects on creativity.
Gollum: The Tortured Artist Trap
Gollum is utterly obsessed with suffering. He’s consumed by it. As an analogy for the tortured artist, he represents the idea of completely buying into the belief that suffering is necessary for creation. In doing so, he loses his own identity. He isolates himself, clings to misery, and lets it define him entirely. Ultimately, his fixation doesn’t lead to enlightenment or brilliance—it leads to his demise.
When we romanticize suffering as the source of creativity, we risk falling into this same trap. Becoming so fixated on our pain that we isolate ourselves, cut off connection, and revel in our own misery isn’t inspiring—it’s self-destructive.
Frodo: The Creative Hero’s Journey
Frodo Baggins, on the other hand, embodies transcendance. He’s empathic, courageous, and determined. His journey is one of bearing the burden of suffering—not as something to idolize, but as something to move through. Of all the warriors and wizards in Middle-earth, Frodo is the one who takes on the challenge of carrying the ring because he has the humility and fortitude to do so. His story mirrors the creative journey: having the talent, inspiration, endurance, and vision to pursue something meaningful, even in the face of adversity.
But what truly sets Frodo apart from Gollum is that he doesn’t isolate himself in his suffering—he allows himself to be supported. Instead of letting the burden consume him, he leans on Sam and others who help him stay the course.
Sam: The Unsung Hero of Support
Samwise Gamgee is perhaps the most important character in this analogy. He’s the embodiment of emotional intelligence, loyalty, and support. He knows himself well enough to avoid carrying the ring himself, but he never abandons Frodo. Instead, he carries Frodo. He tends to his friend’s physical and emotional needs, provides encouragement, and ensures that Frodo is able to overcome his suffering in order to complete his journey.
Sam represents the support systems—friends, family, collaborators, mentors—that make creativity possible. Most creative work is not done in isolation. Behind every great piece of art, there’s often a team: people who encourage, challenge, and uplift the creator. Without support, even the most talented and driven artist can collapse under the weight of their own struggles.
Finding Your Own Balance
Rather than being just a Gollum, Frodo, or Sam, we all have a little of each of them within us.
So, ask yourself: How much of each do you have in you?
Do you find yourself overly fixated on suffering, believing it’s the key to your creativity? That’s your inner Gollum talking.
Do you have a clear creative goal but struggle under the weight of it? That’s your Frodo side.
Do you have enough Sam in your life—both internally and externally? Are you allowing yourself to receive the support you need?
Recognizing these different aspects of yourself can help bring you into alignment. Maybe you have a strong creative drive (Frodo) but lack support (Sam). Or perhaps you’re stuck in suffering (Gollum) and struggling to find motivation. Whatever your inner balance, the key is acknowledging that no one succeeds alone. Asking for help and surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference.
Creativity Thrives in Balance, Not in Suffering
Suffering isn’t what makes you creative. In fact, it’s more likely to lead to exhaustion, creative block, and burnout. What actually fuels creativity is a combination of talent, inspiration, endurance, vision, and—most importantly—support.
Support, including therapy, plays a crucial role in transforming suffering into something that can be processed and overcome, rather than a place where we get stuck. The goal isn’t to erase suffering from life—because that’s impossible—but to navigate it in a way that fosters resilience and growth. Therapy can help us regulate our emotions, reframe our experiences, and move forward rather than being trapped by pain.
We all encounter suffering in life, but the goal isn’t to seek it out or let it define us. Instead, we should focus on building resilience, surrounding ourselves with supportive relationships, and pursuing our aspirations from a place of inner balance. That’s how we foster creativity—without ending up in Mount Doom.
And if you need help finding that balance? Therapy can be a powerful tool for navigating suffering, strengthening resilience, and cultivating your inner Sam Gamgee.