One of the more frequently quoted phrases coming from different wisdom traditions is "This too will pass" It is a reminder that we can find contentment in whatever circumstance if we glimpse the truth that all things will not last forever. Change is constant, people - friends and enemies - come and go in our lives, difficult situations will end. It allows us create space between ourselves and the situation and focus instead on why the situation has been presented to us and what we can learn from it. It's not always easy to stay balanced but it helps me when I see that things are the way they are because of so many causes. The wisest way I can respond to my life is by working with it and responding to it and not struggling with it. This does not mean that we should not fight for the things that we can change or refuse to accept when others treat us badly. However, at times, there are things that I cannot change. "This too will pass" helps me see that all things have an ending. And when I see that endings can lead to new beginnings, I can endure difficulties more easily and let go of good things without resentment.
