It's a very crazy terrain to have to navigate. I'm in my 15th year of freelancing, been living this lifestyle since I was 17 years old. I can't say that I ever chose this type of work style, but I definitely chose to not conform to the normal 9-5 life.
It has it's ups, and seemingly more downs, but I would not have chosen another path if given the chance. I've never needed much to survive, as long as I am happy with my creative output, thats enough for me.
Blockchain and crypto has definitely brought a lot more optimism to the flow of value towards content creators and artists alike, so I look forward to the many advancements we see in that realm.
The key is to never give up, just keep on the path. The journey will always be more important than the goal.
Cheers!
JL