It’s time for a serious talk and this time I am writing from a very raw place. Something that I have seen first hand.

We all have our share of sadness, trauma, distress, anguish, pain, betrayal, and the list goes on. Boohoo, you just went through a break up, so new. You just had a friend leave you. You did not get in the college of your dreams or lost something close to you. Guess what, no one except for you cares. The time will not stop, the earth won’t stop moving and the stars will not change their shapes.

It is tragic how the world inside of you will be crumbling down but the word out there will be growing like nothing before. The tides will rise and fall like your moods and the sun will set as you cry yourself to sleep. The harsh reality becomes even tougher to accept when you don’t find a way to channel your emotions.

“Don’t cry” “It’ll pass” “It’s just a phase” “It will make you stronger”

No. It did not pass like a breeze, it came like a tornado and took me with it, now I am circling and swirling in the eye of the storm. No, it was not a phase, at least not for the past 6 month when all the milk in my fridge expired 4 months ago but I did not have the energy to buy another pack. No, it did not make me stronger, it made me more tolerable and cautious. I am here to tell you that the world is a bitch to give you this sadness, but the questions is not “Why it gave you this sorrow?” The question is

“What are you gonna do with it?”

Are you going to let the sad stories stay on your page, or are you ready to archive them? Are you ready to clean your room? Are you ready to start something that you once feared? Are you ready to buy new packs of milk?

I was. The past 5 years of my life have not been smooth. There were ups and down, not like a smooth wave but more like I was surfboarding on a tsunami wave. What was I supposed to do with all this bottled up sadness. It was about time I burst open like a soda pop can and let the breeze out.

Now that you have that sadness, why not monetize it, beautify it and create it.

Taylor swift has made songs after break up, she has created art from that sorrow and we all know where she is right now. All Too Well by her was a massive hit, making her money in millions.

Halsey, when she went through her breakup wrote the song “Without Me” and made more than 15 million copies of it. She put her sorrow out there and let people know its power.

Bo Burham, one of my favourite artists — I will call him artist, not a singer or a comedian because I think his creations cannot be summed up in one word. His Netflix special ‘Inside’ has made me cry, laugh and have an existential crisis in 1 hour. He created that piece alone, in his room without much help.

Vincent Van Gogh, Kurt Cobain, Mitski, Frida Kahlo — all these people have made something out of their emotion. You see we don’t just feel from out brain, we feel through our bones and heart. Out entire body goes through the sadness. It should not just be a vessel to contain it, it should be put out there.

You ought to create art out of your sadness. Be angry, be emotional and let loose of the feelings that are burdening you.

I started my business in anger. Now I make $1,000/mo.

I was angry because of my mental health. I was an ocean of emotions that had no place to flow. I was a cup that was full up to the brim but it was still not overflowing. I started questioning my routine.

Was waking up and feeling helpless all I’m capable of?

It was like someone had flipped a switch. I wanted to take that anger and put it in a place that can help me make something out of it. That is when I started writing a book.

I wrote for 30 days and 30 nights straight. I wrote about everything I could think of and even feel. There came a time when words were not flowing from me but for me instead. I completed the book and sent it for publishing. Not I did not become a New York Times Bestseller nor I was signed but a huge publishing that helped me make millions, but I was accepted by a publishing house that loved my poems.

That is how, I became a published poet that has sold more than 100 copies.

My book, ‘Gift Wrapped Fist’ will always be near to my heart, because it bring me money, because it is a reminder than when sorrow comes, I can channel it and create art.

I could had stopped there but no, I stared my indie journey where I help early stage startups build their entire system on Notion. I am growing that business as a single person all the while working my 9–5. Sounding tiresome? It isn’t. It was when I was just starting out but not right now. It is a very fun game where I get to decide my future, where I am following a stoic mentality and no once can make me shake that away.

If you’ve read this far, congratulation, you’re already on that change path. Choose your motivation and get to work. Create art, create products, create whatever you want to do, let the world know that something amazing can come out of those emotions. It is high time now — but there is one more thing I want you to know.

Don’t do it for the revenge. Don’t do it to prove someone else. When you climb a mountain, climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.

While you search for the self expression, dig deeper into yourself. Follow these steps

1. Connect with Others

Sharing your art with others can be a powerful way to connect and find solace in shared experiences. Vulnerability in art often resonates with audiences who have experienced similar emotions. By sharing your sorrow through your art, you may find a supportive community that understands and appreciates your work, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.

2. Transform Sorrow into Empathy

Art has the unique ability to transform sorrow into empathy. As you create art inspired by your own experiences of pain, you may find yourself tapping into the collective human experience. Through your art, you can convey emotions that others may struggle to put into words. In turn, this empathy can help both you and your audience find healing and perspective.

3. Explore Growth and Resilience

Using strong emotions to create art is not just about expressing pain; it can also become a testament to growth and resilience. As you create, you may notice a transformation within yourself. Art can serve as a record of your journey through sorrow and how you emerged stronger and more resilient on the other side.

In conclusion, you ought to grow out of this and you can. Start focusing on things that once mattered. Reconnect with your inner child and think what would that child be proud of today.