Almost everything is multisided – including the occurrences that give us pain. So, we asked some of the most enlightened folks in the community to share how they have harnessed their pain to help rather than hurt them.
Shantell Taylor
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that my silence was no longer serving me or my future. Growing up, I faced poverty, abuse, and even the trauma of being molested. For years, I carried shame, guilt, and fear—often worrying about what others would think if they knew my story. Read More>>
Catalina Vásquez Salazar
I’ve always considered myself someone who feels intensely. That can be both a gift and a challenge when you don’t yet know how to channel emotions. At some point, I began documenting not only my pain but also what I was going through, drawing my thoughts, writing about my experiences, and giving shape to what I was living. Read More>>
Bob Pryor
I express myself through music. Everyone goes through periods in their lives where they experience pain, disappointment, rejection, extreme joy, and more. I am no exception. Being a prolific writer, all my songs, many of my essays, and my talks come from experiences in my life, some good, some not good. Read More>>
Ali Kates
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that keeping it in was costing me more than the pain itself. For years, I carried the weight of trauma, burnout, and health struggles in silence—thinking that if I just pushed through, it would eventually go away. But instead, it grew heavier. Read More>>
maryly acevedo
My pain is what motivated me to become who I am today. I took my struggles and my failures and turned them into fuel. Instead of letting them break me, I used them to build something meaningful — proof that even through hardship, growth and success are possible. Read More>>
Karl Zurflüh
When started my current body of work, Light Pilots, I dove deep inside to push myself as an artist. This is when I started allowing myself to be vulnerable and share my pain. Once I cracked the door open, things started coming up that needed to come out. Read More>>
Chelsea Nwasike
Hm… these are such great questions! Y’all are really making me dig deep, haha. I’d say 2022 was the year I stopped hiding my pain. The year prior, I hit rock bottom…. and I mean, I don’t think there was any lower. Any lower and I would’ve found myself under a heap of fresh soil, if you catch my drift. Read More>>
Chieh Hsiung
I stopped hiding my pain when I moved to New York. The loneliness and struggles of starting over in a new place were overwhelming at times, but they also pushed me to transform. Dance became the way I released what I was carrying, and over time, it turned into my power. Read More>>
Marianne Ough
I was raised with the mindset that feelings such as pain, sadness or fear was a sign of weakness and should never be displayed. Not only by my parents but by our American society which expects us to stay in this little box of what is deemed presentable and perfect. Read More>>
Amber Champagne
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power after the stillbirth of my second son. That grief cracked me open in a way nothing else ever could. For a long time, I thought pain was something to push down, to manage quietly so the world wouldn’t see the cracks. But losing him shifted everything. Read More>>
Kyy Mosely
While I still find myself hiding my pain at times, as healing isn’t always a straight path, I’ve definitely learned how to transform it into strength. The birth of my son was a turning point; I could no longer keep things bottled up. Becoming his mother compelled me to confront my pain directly, so I could be the best version of myself for him. Read More>>
Ashelie Gabriella
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power after my dad passed away from cancer. He fought such a long battle, yet he always kept a smile on his face, took care of his family, and reminded me to keep pushing forward no matter the circumstances. Watching his strength showed me that even in the hardest moments, there is power in resilience. Read More>>
Kiana ‘V.’ Ware
A few years ago I went through a messy divorce and I was vocal about the pains and betrayals that led me to moving forward. In doing so I received an outpouring of support from everyone in my network and I realized there was power in sharing my struggles. My art transformed into a new space as I continued to use my craft as therapy. Read More>>
Jasmine Azor
Hmm 🤔 I can’t say I’ve ever hid my pain. To be honest that’s exactly what I’ve built my entire existence on: exposing my paints thoughts hurts and vulnerabilities. My art my poems my captions and statuses. It’s all my pains. Read More>>
Madison Santos
I spent my whole life hiding my pain. Growing up, I was taught to be strong, believing my problems would be a burden to others. I also desperately wanted to fit in, which led me to focus on superficial topics like makeup, fashion, or dating to connect with people. Read More>>
Kimberly Camacho
I stopped hiding my pain about a year ago. As mentioned before my fiancé and the father of my child passed away two years ago and that first year I hid from life. I didn’t see any positive outlook on my future for the longest until I decided I couldn’t live like that anymore. Read More>>
Mathieu Bolillo
When I was 30, I contracted chicken pox and almost died from it. At that time, I was considering myself as a victim. Then My whole sipirt was in a need of transformation and that was the only way for me to heal. Since then I use this tremendous pain as a power and inspiration for others. Read More>>
Jay Vinson
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power the moment I realized silence was costing me more than speaking up ever would. For years, I wore the mask of “being strong.” I showed up for everyone—students, athletes, family, church—while secretly battling depression, disappointment, and the pressure to be perfect. I kept telling myself, “Push through,” but deep down, I was breaking. Read More>>
Delta N.A.w
This is the beauty of art. There is a point in which you understand that also pain is a powerful energy, and it can be used in your creation. All your feelings, all your soul must flow into your art. Read More>>
Dr. LaQuita Parks
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I realized that silence was suffocating me more than the pain itself. For years, I wore a smile while carrying invisible wounds—physical, emotional, and spiritual. I thought being strong meant pretending I was okay. But I reached a breaking point where I couldn’t fake it anymore. Read More>>
Megan Escoto
For a long time, I didn’t talk about what happened to me. Even as I was rebuilding my life — going back to school, starting a career, healing emotionally — I tried not to think about the past. But I wasn’t coping. I was surviving, not fully living. That changed in 2019, when I met a woman named Elizabeth Quiroz. Read More>>
Jennifer Hoffman
My husband and I went through a very difficult financial struggle with our young children. We both worked full time, but still couldn’t make ends meet. I remember feeling so much shame for a long time until I walked with other women struggling to provide for their little ones. Read More>>
Jiayi Ma
I think as an artist, doubts and self-questioning never really disappear — they evolve. I used to see them as signs of weakness, or proof that I wasn’t ‘good enough.’ But over time, I realized that those struggles-the constant tension between doubt and recognition-are fuel for my work. Read More>>
Candi Usher
I stopped hiding my pain and using it as power when I realized that God have me a purpose. Romans 8:28 became my mantra. All things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. I have a purpose in God, and I was chosen by Him to do some wonderful things in life. Read More>>
