For almost 5 years before 2021, I was completely isolated, away from people.
I call it the black-and-white phase of my life – a phase filled with dreams, passion, hustle, and hard work, but also with confusion, obstacles, and tears.
I’ve successfully left behind the black-and-white phase of my life and entered a more vibrant and colorful chapter.
Sometimes I like to reflect on that phase because I learned a lot from it, and whatever I’m doing now is the result of that phase.
I understand that life comes with both good and tough times. No matter what comes along, in between, I will have fun in my own way.
2018 was the hardest year of my life. I had no funding to start a blog, and I had no support system to help me out. I was completely alone and isolated.
Almost every night, I used to cry a lot.
Whenever I slept, I had dreams about traveling the world and earning money while working online.
I’m not complaining at all, I’m glad I survived that phase.
I was so motivated those days, I was so motivated to work, and I was so restless to take action to complete all the plans I had in my mind. I was depressed because I couldn’t take action even though I was ready to.
While writing my thoughts at that time, I wrote this quote:
“Obstacles are an essential part of a struggling life. There is no struggle without obstacles.”
Finally, I started freelancing in 2018 and then started blogging in 2019. Now that the black-and-white phase is long gone from me, it’s just a nostalgic feeling when I think about it.
Back then, making money was just an experiment, and I used to work because I was so passionate about what I was doing at the time. Making money has become a responsibility now, sometimes I have to do stuff I don’t want to do.
Fortunately, I don’t feel like I am working most of the time because I love what I do. All I do is complete my favorite tasks.
In the end, it is because of all the struggle, all the fighting with obstacles, and all the sleepless nights with tears, that now I am enjoying this lifestyle, doing what I love.
You know?
In life, there will always be struggles and obstacles, ups and downs.
Until the last breath, we will keep overcoming obstacles. Life is like a video game, as you get new levels, you have harder tasks to accomplish and it gets harder and harder. I’m grateful that I went through my black-and-white phase as it prepared me for all those different levels of my life.
Life is all about ups and downs. A life without ups and downs is equal to death!
Our capacity for happiness is inversely proportional to our capacity for sadness. You won’t feel happiness without experiencing sadness. The sadder you feel, the greater your capacity for happiness becomes.
This quote about the above topic comes from one of my all-time favorite books – The Count of Monte Cristo:
There is neither happiness nor unhappiness in this world; there is only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live…
– The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas.
Here’s another quote by Osho that expresses exactly what I wanted to say about life’s ups and downs and why it’s important.
“Sadness gives depth. Happiness gives height. Sadness gives roots. Happiness gives branches. Happiness is like a tree going into the sky, and sadness is like the roots going down into the womb of the earth. Both are needed, and the higher a tree goes, the deeper it goes, simultaneously. The bigger the tree, the bigger will be its roots. In fact, it is always in proportion. That’s its balance.”
― Osho, Everyday Osho: 365 Daily Meditations for the Here and Now
I could write more about my black-and-white phase and fill this article with more relevant quotes, but I don’t believe in writing unnecessary words. I should go to bed now. LOL. It’s 1 AM here and I have a train in the morning.
If you’re still stuck in your black-and-white phase, have some patience and try to learn as much as you can at this time, as this is the best time to learn something new. Improve yourself, become stronger, and prepare yourself to make it through this phase.
If you are out of the black-and-white phase, feel grateful and prepare yourself for the next phase. It could be black and white, or it could be colorful; we never know.
Thanks for reading this article. 💚
If you loved what you read, would you be able to buy me a cup of coffee? It’s okay if you can’t right now.
If you have any questions or if you wanna work with me, feel free to contact me. I’m always available to help young hustlers like you @InuEtc on Instagram.
Keep hustling!
