How Can I Apply the Idea of “This Too Shall Pass” to My Future?
When thinking about the future, it’s important to consider the concept of “this too shall pass.” No matter what challenges or triumphs come your way, they are all temporary. By keeping this in mind, you can maintain perspective and resilience in the face of uncertainty, including within your twenty years’ future predictions.
According to Wikipedia, “This too shall pass” (Persian: این نیز بگذرد, translit. īn nīz bogzarad, Hebrew: גַּם זֶה יַעֲבֹר, translit. gam zeh yaʻavor, Turkish: bu da geçer ya hu) is:
“an adage reflecting on the temporary nature, or ephemerality, of the human condition. The general sentiment is often expressed in wisdom literature throughout history and across cultures, although the specific phrase seems to have originated in the writings of the medieval Persian Sufi poets.”
So now we have a pretty technical breakdown of the actual quote; what does this mean to us, and how can we use it in our daily lives?
What Does It Mean To You and Me?
This is quite an interesting quote and has some similarities to a poem that we have covered previously called the guesthouse.
Basically, The Guest House is a poem discussing some reasons why we shouldn’t be overly concerned with the thoughts that come and go from our minds. We should instead treat them like a guesthouse, i.e., welcoming each thought and memory instead of trying to push them out or repress them. I won’t go into too much detail here because you can check that analysis out here.
However, the reason that I brought it up was because of the similarities to this quote (it’s not a coincidence that they both originate from a somewhat golden age of Islamic philosophy).
“This too, Shall Pass” is a succinct way of telling the listener or reader that no matter what happens.
This Too Shall Pass.
We all have times in our lives when we truly believe that darkness has consumed us and that we cannot go on.
We all have times in our lives when we truly believe that darkness has consumed us and that we cannot go on. Moreover, this quote seems especially pertinent in today’s world of inflation, war, pandemics, misinformation, political turmoil…you name it!
The reason I particularly appreciate the quote is due to the enormity that emerges from its conciseness. It is tight and to the point, but the meaning behind it can turn even the most ardent pessimist into somewhat of an optimist.
So when you feel that life has caught you in a pincer movement and checkmate feels inevitable, just remember that this too shall pass.
Peace and love to you all, as usual, and let us embrace the joys (and tragedies) that life inevitably brings to us all.