meshikiyang.com

There’s this quote from Vincent van Gogh:

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

It is simple, but it lands differently depending on where you are in life. Some days it feels inspiring. Other days, it offers a gentle nudge. At other times, it becomes the reminder you did not know you needed.

In a letter to his brother in 1881, Van Gogh wrote “I feel a certain calm. There is safety in the midst of danger. What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

Courage can be quiet, the kind that happens behind closed doors when no one is watching and no applause is waiting at the end.

And that’s exactly the kind Vincent van Gogh lived.

A Life That Didn’t Look Like “Greatness” or “Perfection”

When we think of Van Gogh now, we think of The Starry Night, sunflowers, swirling skies, bold colours and museum walls. But his actual life looked nothing like the legacy he left behind.

He was not celebrated, financially stable or surrounded by admirers. He was not even sure he was good enough.

Before he ever picked up a paintbrush seriously, Van Gogh tried to become a preacher. He worked as a missionary, living among people who had almost nothing. He wanted to help, to serve, to make a difference. But something in him kept pulling him back to art, even when the world didn’t seem to want it from him.

His early work was raw and emotional. He painted ordinary people, fields, flowers and skies but made them feel alive. His brushstrokes were messy, intense and full of feeling, the kind of art that did not fit neatly into the expectations of his time.

And people did not understand it.

During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold one painting.

He lived in tiny rooms, skipped meals and struggled to afford paint. He relied heavily on his younger brother, Theo, who believed in him when almost no one else did. Without Theo’s emotional and financial support, many of Van Gogh’s paintings might never have existed.

But he kept going.

Not because he felt confident.

Not because success was already within reach.

Not because he had proof it would work out.

He kept going because something inside him refused to stop. Purpose.

Courage in the Middle of Chaos

Van Gogh’s mental health struggles were real and painful. He experienced breakdowns, deep loneliness and moments where life felt unbearable. During one of those moments in Arles, he famously cut off part of his ear. Later, he admitted himself to an asylum in Saint Rémy.

Even in the middle of that darkness, he painted.

He painted the gardens outside his window, the hills, the olive trees and the night sky swirling with movement and hope.

The Starry Night wasn’t created during a moment of triumph. It came from a man trying to hold onto something, that felt like light.

A Legacy He Never Saw Coming

Van Gogh died at 37.

He never saw the crowds, the museums, the admiration and the millions. He never knew he would become one of the most influential artists in history.

And that’s the part that stays with me.

We often measure our value by things like applause, recognition, validation, numbers and outcomes.

Van Gogh’s legacy reminds us that beauty can come from struggle and that a life misunderstood in its own time can still leave a lasting light for others.

His life reminds us that purpose and real worth is not always visible in the moment. It comes from within, from our most authentic selves. The outside world may not see or appreciate it straight away. It can take years, decades or even generations for the world to catch up.

Courage can mean trying again when no one sees you, creating something beautiful when you feel broken or continuing when the tunnel feels endless.

Courage can simply mean believing that your effort matters, even if you can’t see how yet.

If You’re in a Quiet Season

If you’re weighed down, feeling lost or your efforts feel invisible, remember this:

Selling one painting is not failure. Being misunderstood does not make you wrong. Being unseen does not make you any less valuable.

One person’s belief in you can change everything. Your courage to keep going might light the way for someone else, even if you don’t realise it yet.

Van Gogh didn’t know what he would leave behind but his work endured.

Quietly. Powerfully. Beautifully.

Five Things to Take Away from Van Gogh’s Legacy

1. Courage is often quiet. It is not about big gestures; it is about showing up when it’s hard.
2. Your work can matter even if it’s not recognised yet. Impact isn’t always immediate.
3. One person’s belief in you can change your entire path. Theo’s support kept Vincent going. Find your “Theo” or be one for someone else.
4. Creativity doesn’t require perfection. Van Gogh painted through chaos, doubt and pain, yet still created beauty.
5. True worth outlives noise, judgement and time. The world may not understand you now, but legacy has its own timeline.

I hope Van Gogh’s story inspires something in you.

Thank you for reading and check back in soon.