The Groove 197 - How to Stop Feeling So Numb
HOW TO STOP FEELING SO NUMB
If you have experienced a sense of numbness lately, you aren’t alone. A study published in 2020 showed that people’s numbness has been largely driven by an overwhelming influx of information and constant digital connectivity. The pervasiveness of social media, news outlets, and digital communication tools are bombarding us 24/7 with an unending stream of data, often leading to information overload. A different study published in 2022 reveals that consumer culture, characterized by an abundance of choices and relentless advertising, also contributes to feelings of dissatisfaction and numbness.
I am not immune to any of this and have been looking for ways to shut down all the noise and the obsession with the news cycle. For some wisdom, I turned to the second half of Joan Mitchell’s career, when she produced her best work.
In 1959, Mitchell made France her permanent home. She initially lived with her lover, artist Jean-Paul Riopelle, in a modest apartment and studio on rue Frémicourt in Paris. But in July 1967, Mitchell purchased a house along the Seine River in Vétheuil, 56 kilometers outside Paris, where she resided for the rest of her life. Here are three things she did during that time:
Feel
Joan Mitchell in her garden in Vétheuil in 1991. Photo by David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images.
Embracing your emotions fully is like diving into a deep, rich pool of experience, where each sensation- whether joy or sorrow- adds depth to your life. Numbness, while offering a temporary shield from overwhelming feelings, often keeps you from the vivid textures of true living.
There was a word that Mitchell used over and over again, and that was “feeling”. "I still do gestural painting, and I'm still an Abstract Expressionist. And I still feel.”
Despite the “macho” labels of the Abstract Expressionists or the fact that it was hard being a female artist in the 1960s and 1970s, she wasn’t apologetic or try to conceal her emotions or her depth. On the contrary, she told curator Marcia Tucker in 1974: "My paintings aren't about art issues. They're about a feeling.” Later in 1986, she lamented that "feeling" remained "a dirty word'.
Mitchell channeled her feelings into her art and created timeless works that resonate deeply with viewers, demonstrating the power of authenticity and emotional honesty.
Start seeing your feelings as friends more than foes. If you allow yourself to truly feel, you unlock a spectrum of emotions that can transform your world and connect you more deeply with both yourself and others.
Connect with Your Surroundings
Joan Mitchell, Sunflowers, 1990-91. Oil on canvas.
It doesn’t matter if you live in a busy city or on a remote farm. The important thing is to connect with your surroundings in a way that makes you appreciate what’s around you. Houses and roads that you didn’t need to build, or skies and trees and the beauty and completeness of nature that offer contemplation and respite.
Mitchell's work was deeply connected to her environment. The colors, light, and atmosphere of her surroundings played a significant role in her creative process. This connection to places enabled her to create works that were visually striking, memorable and moving.
The landscapes of Vétheuil deeply influenced Mitchell’s work. With evocative titles like Blueberry, Parasol, Garden for Audrey, and Merrily, along with a definite shift from somber tones to vivid yellows, greens, pinks, blues and purples, Mitchell generated hundreds of stunning pastels on paper and glorious canvases sometimes rendered in diptychs and triptychs as wide as 16 feet.
Connecting with your surroundings is crucial to overcoming numbness and cultivating a deeper appreciation for the world. Observe the intricate details of nature, the subtle shifts in light and shadow, or the rhythms of daily life. Attune to the richness of life.
Value the Process Over the Product
Joan Mitchell, La Grande Vallée, 1983. Oil on canvas.
ocusing on the process rather than the product is vital for avoiding numbness because it shifts your attention to the present moment and the journey itself, rather than being solely outcome-driven. Engaging deeply with the way you do things allows you to experience and appreciate each step, fostering mindfulness and connection.
Mitchell loved having guests in her house, but her studio was sacred, and she didn’t want interruptions. She created her work in private, away from public or performative settings and spent her afternoons and evenings painting in extended sessions that often lasted until late at night.
Although Mitchell's paintings might appear to be the product of a single day, she created them at a very deliberate pace, to the extent that she said: "The idea of 'action painting' is a joke… There's no 'action' here. I paint a little. Then I sit and I look at the painting, sometimes for hours. Eventually the painting tells me what to do." Every year, she made about 20 large paintings (not counting the works on paper and smaller canvases) and it wasn’t uncommon for her to dedicate several months to just one piece.
Joan Mitchell in her studio, Vétheuil, summer 1991. Photo by Christopher Campbell.
For Mitchell, the act of painting was as important as the finished work. She soaked in the process with joy and focus: "The freedom in my work is quite controlled. I don't close my eyes and hope for the best."
Borrowing from Mitchell’s love of process helps you stay absorbed in your work and find fulfillment in the act of creation or effort, rather than just the final result. When you value the process, you remain connected to your passions and interests, which helps prevent the detachment and monotony that can lead to feelings of numbness.
To break free from numbness, dive headfirst into the full spectrum of your emotions and let yourself truly feel every nuance of your experiences. Connect deeply with the world around you, from the simplest moments to the grandest scenes, and find profound meaning in each step of your journey. This active participation not only revitalizes your sense of self but also can infuse your life with richness and depth.