How Do People Become Stronger?

To become stronger, there are three key steps: developing “black vitality,” resisting time distortion, and creating. Many people struggle to even pass the first hurdle.

1. Black Vitality

Black vitality is the fierce resilience that comes from being crushed by pain, then fighting back, and emerging even stronger.

You might have heard the saying: “Every exceptional person has endured their darkest hours.”

People often assume that strong individuals have always been successful—straight-A students since childhood, rising effortlessly through careers, overcoming every obstacle. This is linear thinking, as if life progresses in a smooth, predictable line.

But reality is different. Life is full of twists and turns. Today, you might win the lottery; tomorrow, you could get hit by a car. One day, you’re engaged; the next, your partner leaves you for an ex. Life is wilder than fiction.

Everyone’s life follows a fluctuating curve, not a straight line. And at some point, everyone faces a steep drop—their “darkest hour.”

This is where strength is born.

Some climb out of this abyss; others never recover. Their confidence shatters, and they remain broken. Surviving this phase requires rebuilding your worldview, enduring unfairness, and battling self-doubt.

Those who make it through gain black vitality—a fierce, unshakable resilience. They understand pain deeply, handle it better, and see reality with sharper clarity.

For example:

• “The person I loved most hurt me.”
• “I worked so hard but got nothing in return.”

While others might crumble, those with black vitality think: “Why not me?” They’ve learned they’re stronger than they imagined.

How to Build Black Vitality:

1. Acknowledge your negative emotions. Don’t suppress them. Cry if you need to. Only by accepting your pain can you heal.
2. Believe your suffering has meaning. Pain feels unbearable when it seems pointless. Remind yourself: This is shaping me.
3. Don’t label yourself. When you think, “I’m a failure,” challenge it. Find evidence against that belief.

Scars are reminders of battles fought—and won.

2. Resisting Time Distortion

As we grow older, time feels faster. Childhood summers felt endless; now, years slip by unnoticed.

This happens because:

• At age 5, one year is 1/5 of your life.
• At 20, it’s 1/20.
• At 60, it’s 1/60.

Psychologically, this leads to time discounting—we undervalue future rewards because the present feels more urgent.

For example:

• “Why learn this skill? It might be useless in 10 years.”
  → But whether you learn or not, 10 years will pass. The difference? You’ll have an extra skill.
• “This effort won’t pay off immediately.”
  → But the payoff exists—just not yet.

Strong people resist this distortion. They stay mindful of time’s passage and invest in long-term growth.

How to Fight Time Distortion:

1. Spend an hour daily on long-term value. Learn a skill, read, or practice a hobby. Progress matters more than results.
2. Introduce small changes. Break routines to make time memorable. Take a new route, change your phone wallpaper, or rearrange your desk.

3. Creating, Not Just Consuming

Most people live as consumers—of money, time, and attention. Few switch to creating.

Examples:

• After reading an article, try writing one yourself.
• After watching a movie, analyze its plot structure.
• In games, don’t just play—explore secrets, create mods, or write guides.

Creation requires deep thinking and effort. It’s what separates the exceptional from the average.

How to Start Creating:

1. Stay curious. Ask “why” often. Explore the unfamiliar.
2. “Take things apart.” Analyze how things work, then rebuild them in your own way.

Final Summary:

1. Develop black vitality by overcoming adversity.
2. Resist time distortion by valuing long-term growth.
3. Shift from consuming to creating.