Most often, we hear this phrase being said to us whenever we are facing something that is extremely challenging. It’s purpose, presumably, is to bring some form of comfort and hope. A form of anticipation that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
I cannot speak for everyone but I, for one, couldn’t really grasp the hope that’s imbedded in that phrase. Somehow, to me, it sounded more like something you might say when you don’t know what else to say. Very rarely would this phrase comfort me in any shape or form.
Things have been rough for me emotionally and psychologically for the past two years, especially. And Allah knows how traumatised I have been through childhood traumas and such. He allowed these things to happen to me. I take comfort in understanding that THAT meant I am deemed strong enough by Him to survive through the challenges He had designed for me.
In therapy, a counselor is to assist client to gain some form of insight; an inner understanding or introspection on why they are where they are in their lives with all given circumstances and variables. After that, the counselor walks with the client as they process through their inner conflicts, frustrations and disappointments.
This morning, Allah bestowed upon me an inner wisdom. Here it is.
In order for the phrase “This too shall pass” to have any value as a psychological resource, one must understand that a bad experience is not tangible. An experience is a memory of what happened. 10 different individuals with the same experience will have 10 different memory of it. So, who is right? Whose experience is more valid than the other? None. All have the same value of fragments of memory.
Yes. An experience is intangible. Unless you choose to write it down into a descriptive narrative. I can totally understand why anyone would want to do that. But why would anyone want to make tangible a bad experience?
“This too shall pass” means you need to allow the experience to pass through you without leaving any residue or sediment within you. That would mean you need to allow it to pass through you several times until it changes from being a bad experience to a life lesson. Bad experience did not happen to you. Bad experience just happens. There’s no need to make it about you.
So, do write down happy experiences, thoughts and moments. Write down everything you want to be reminded of. Design your memories.
