Bari-ekwaadoo Lekia 1 year ago

@Ekwaadoo 6 min read View comments 2 #personal-development

Obscurity Is A Good Thing

Here's how to optimize that period in your journey when it seems as though no one is noticing you. That period when you are just starting out, having little or no visibility. Let's get right to it!

Calm your horses; I know your head is already spinning with how ridiculous the caption is. First of all, what does obscurity mean? I'm not going to give a "scholarly dictionary definition" of what the word means. I'll define my own words. Obscurity simply means not being known. Being in the dark. Not being recognized yet. The definition above basically sums up what an obscure period is like in a person's life. No one knows you. Nobody sends you! This period is usually very trying. It's not easy putting efforts into a venture that it seems no one is paying attention to. Or burning with a passion that no one cares about.

In this period, you write and get zero to two likes, one from your sister/mom/dad/brother and the other one from you, you paint and get four views, you post a video, and after three weeks, you still have zero comments on it. During this period, it's as though no one in the world notices you. You catch zero attention. You look at those that are into the same or similar ventures as you, and after seeing how well they are doing, you begin to question yourself. What am I doing wrong? Maybe I should just give up? Maybe it is not for me?

On some days, you get up to shoot a video, write or paint and you think, what's the point? No one will watch it. No one will read it. No one will see it. But...You still go ahead anyway because you just can't give up. You open your phone/journal and write. You set up your equipment and proceed to shoot the video. You get your canvas in place and proceed to get lost in the world of art and beauty. And amid all these, I dare say obscurity is a good thing? Now, the thing is, for whatever you are going through, you have the choice to focus on the negative or the positive. You have the power to make that choice. You can decide to see that period of obscurity as a bad thing or a good thing. Here's How Obscurity Is Good:

First:

You can use that period of obscurity to refine your skills. Of course, we all know that learning never ends, but you have a lot to learn as a newbie. Use that period when no one is looking at you to sharpen your skills. Read books. Take courses. Many sites offer free classes online, so even if money is a challenge, you can have free access without having to pay a dime.

Second:

You can fumble, make as many mistakes as you want, and correct them before anyone notices. This period is the time to fail unashamedly with your full chest. Because there are way fewer eyes on you, you can make mistakes, and learn, and make mistakes and learn again without some criticism by the side berating your work. Yes, no one is above mistakes. Yes, everyone gets criticized. But, at this point, you don't take as much heat as the more well-known brands do.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Third:

You can use that period of obscurity to find and create a voice for your brand. When you are just starting out, it's as though all your thoughts and ideas are in a jumble. Just swirling around unorganized in your head. You can use this period to find direction. Find your area of specialty and the things that actually resound with you. Build a brand and a voice.

Fourth:

You can use that period of obscurity to discover your strengths and weaknesses and how to work around them. This is the period of "trial and error." This is the time to discover where you are good and where you are not so good. This is the time to tackle some challenges that you may face in the future.

Fifth:

This period will tell you if you really have passion for what you are doing or if you are just following the crowd. Yes, this period is also a test period. This is when you will know if you are really doing what you do out of passion. This is when you'll get to find out what is driving you. Your patience will be tested! Your passion will be tested! Yes, you will be tried! But, no matter the outcome, do not resent this period. See it as a part of the process. See it as a step in your growth journey. See it as something that will strengthen you and give you more momentum.

Look forward to the joy that lies ahead of obscurity and keeps pressing. Because...I believe you will win!