Pablo Picasso is one of the most well-known and prolific artists of all time, with the total number of artworks he produced estimated at 50,000, comprising 1,885 paintings; 1,228 sculptures; 2,880 ceramics, roughly 12,000 drawings, many thousands of prints, and numerous tapestries and rugs. He was a painter, sculptor, illustrator, ceramicist, printmaker, and theater-designer known for constantly experimenting with different mediums and styles, with his massive output often categorized into periods.

I recently came across a quote by Picasso that defined his ability to create such incredible output, day after day, year after year.

“If I don’t have red, I use blue.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of resistance lately and how it’s often paired with the feeling that things need to be perfect before action is taken. Often this resistance occurs because we feel we need the ideal environment to sit down and create something, whether it be art, a short story, or a big project at school or work.

So what is Picasso telling us?

My grandmother used to say that both bad news, and good news, can travel in three’s. We’ve all been on the business end of bad news when a series of events makes us believe that the world has conspired against us. It’s that week where the car breaks down just when the checking account is the lowest it’s been in months and the hot water heater just happens to break a day later. Often these personal struggles can coincide with a stressful time and work and in our family life, as we soon become convinced that the world is definitely aligned against us. It’s during times like this that our intestinal fortitude is truly tested— we either get off the proverbial mat or just lay there and let life deal us blow after blow.

Well-known author and psychiatrist Phil Stutz has coined a term for our ability to build resilience in these situations and it’s called “emotional stamina”. Stutz defines it as the ability to bounce back from challenges quickly, in essence, the ability to take our lumps and move on.

When it comes to the human condition, emotional stamina, if cultivated (and it’s hard!) might be our most important superpower. It’s common sense that the ability to respond quickly and positively to adversity, to get back off the proverbial pavement after you’ve been knocked down, is a big part of what makes many successful people just that, successful. In reality, though, it’s extremely difficult. because we are after all, human.

Emotional stamina is about thriving at the worst times, the worse we feel, the more determination we have to get up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward.

"If I Don't Have Red, I Use Blue."

The Search for Emotional Stamina