This too shall pass….

In the midst of our pursuits in  life, we experience many simple happy moments as well as wonderful life affirming events like births, graduations and marriages. And at  other times, certain events frustrate and challenge us. We seem to have little or no control over them. Despite adopting a ‘positive thinking’ attitude, we are faced regularly with minor  problems like traffic or surly people. Less frequently, we find ourselves shaken by traumatic events like death, sickness or accidents that rock the foundation of our existence. It happens to every human being.

No one is exempt from life’s polarities.

Sometime ago I read a Jewish folk tale about the wise king, Soloman. The king had asked his ministers to find a magical ring which could make a sad man instantly happy and a happy man instantly sad. One of his intelligent ministers gave him a simple ring with the following words engraved – This too shall pass. He then asked the King to look at this ring at moments when he is either happy or sad.

In our life, we encounter happy or sad moments daily. When it happens we get swept away by the moment, feeling elated, angry, sad or overwhelmed and we lose our sense of balance or inner equilibrium.

The right approach at this transient time would be to maintain our balance, accept and learn from the moment, take it in our stride while remaining detached. Become an observer instead of being a victim of circumstances – remember this moment too shall pass.