“This shall pass” – How to deal with hard times

Hey,

Have you ever had a situation in your life where you’re exhausted and tired and want to give up?

It could be during exam season, or you’re on a deadline, or maybe you’re dealing with a rough time in your relationship.

I am sure that all of us have had those moments–the moments when we just want to give up.

In this article, I wanted to talk about how to muster up the courage to keep going when you are at a low in your life.

When I have such moments, I remember “this shall pass.“

It is a very simple concept yet not very obvious.

The reason it helps me is because when I remember that, I know that this will end. I won’t have to grind this hard forever.

Last year when I was in grade 12 and was leading a team of 8 members constantly trying to do something greater, studying and doing assignments, living on my own, cooking, cleaning, trying to make a sustainable side hustle income and everything else, there were times when I would almost burnout or get super stressed.

The only thing that helped me keep going during those times were the fact that it was temporary.

I knew I wouldn’t have to be stressed about the next assignment deadline or organizing the next event throughout my life.

I knew it would end, and I would be less stressed.

Even during the end of 2023, when I was trying to complete Harvard’s 11-week-long CS50 course within 2 weeks, I was like “I don’t want to do this, it’s so hard.”

But then I thought: “Once I complete this, that’s it. I won’t have to stress about it again. It will pass.”

And I completed CS50 and also built a cool Chrome extension (video demo) as my final project for Harvard’s CS50.

It passed.

Lesson: When you’re having a hard time, know that it will pass. Whether it be a crisis, a project, a low in your relationship, whatever it be, it shall pass.

If you read the entire article and found it helpful, do let me know via the comments.

I’d really appreciate it.