“This too shall pass.” You’ve probably heard it before.
Maybe from a friend trying to comfort you, maybe on a quote post online, or maybe you’ve whispered it to yourself when you were struggling to hold things together.
But the truth is, when you’re in the thick of it, those words don’t always land.
When you’re overwhelmed, heartbroken, lost, or just plain exhausted, hearing “this too shall pass” can sound kind of empty.
Like yeah, okay, but when?
And how?
And why does it hurt this much if it’s just going to pass?
I’ve been there too.
In moments where it felt like nothing was going right.
When I felt stuck in the same loop of thoughts, the same problems, the same kind of pain.
And in those moments, it’s really hard to believe that things will ever feel different.
But over time, I’ve realized this phrase isn’t meant to fix anything.
Okay, But What Does It Mean?
“This too shall pass” is a reminder that everything is temporary.
The confusion.
The overthinking.
The pain that feels like it’s going to swallow you whole.
None of it lasts forever.
It may linger longer than you want it to, but it does shift eventually.
It’s not there to dismiss what you’re feeling, but to remind that you won’t always be in this place.
It’s there to ground you.
To remind you that life keeps moving.
Even when you don’t feel ready.
Even when you’re still healing.
That healing isn’t linear, and that’s okay.
Sometimes you wake up and realize that the thing that once consumed your every thought doesn’t hurt as much.
Or maybe you still feel it, but you can breathe around it now.
That’s what it looks like when something starts to pass — slowly, quietly, and without asking for permission.
But It’s Not Just About Pain
And here’s something, this phrase applies to good moments too.
The peace. The joy.
Those pass too.
Which sounds kind of sad, but honestly, it makes them more meaningful.
When you know something won’t last forever, you tend to hold it closer.
You appreciate it more.
So in the good moments, this phrase gently reminds us to stop and appreciate the moment.
To take a quiet breath and think, “This is one of those moments I’ll want to remember.”
In the hard moments, it’s not about pretending to be okay.
It’s about knowing you won’t feel like this forever.
Even if you don’t see the light yet, you trust it’s there somewhere waiting for you on the other side.
So What Now?
If you’re going through something right now whether it’s burnout, grief, loneliness, or even just a day where everything feels off – I hope this reminds you that it won’t stay this way.
You don’t have to fix everything overnight.
Just take one small step.
Drink some water. Go outside for five minutes.
Cry if you need to. Talk to someone.
Whatever you’re facing, it’s part of your story but it’s not the whole thing.
This too shall pass. And when it does, you’ll understand it a little more.
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