Hey there, friend.

When life gets me down, there is one thing I always tell myself.

The struggle is temporary.

The pain is temporary. The disappointment is temporary. The hopelessness is temporary.

Everything has a beginning and end.

If there is one thing that’s certain in this life, it’s that nothing ever stays the same.

We live in an ever-changing world and universe. You, too, are always changing.

Your emotions are constantly shifting and transforming, and your pain is always in the process of healing and becoming something more useful to you. The scratches and wounds you collect through this life are slowly working on becoming whole again, every second of every day.

This isn’t to say that your pain and struggles should be dismissed or ignored, or that your darker days aren’t worthy of proper recognition.

The purpose here can be found in the next moment you feel yourself getting hopeless and lost (which we all do, at some point). The next time this happens, you can consciously ask yourself to hold onto the hope within you by reminding yourself that there is always an endpoint to dark days.

Think of yourself as the sky. Some moments may feel extremely cloudy and uncertain, and at times you might wonder if you will ever see the sun again. Yes, storms are guaranteed, but they don’t stay forever. Nothing stays forever. Both clouds and sun are always on the move.

When you feel depressed, it doesn’t mean the depression will last forever. When you feel anxious, it doesn’t mean the anxiety will last forever. When you feel scared, it doesn’t mean the fear will last forever.

One year from now, all the struggles you are currently facing will look very different from the way they do now.

Take comfort in this and, as cliché as it may sound, know that the sun always comes out at the end of a storm. Always. This is what it means to have hope.

Everyone needs to be able to see the presence of hope in their life. Being able to do so is a very powerful thing.

Hope allows you to believe that brighter days are ahead. It reminds you to notice the beauty around you, enabling you to keep moving forward towards a better future (no matter the temporary challenges this life may bring).

The next time you find yourself searching for greater hope, remember this:

H – Honor yourself and everything you’ve been through.

O – Open your mind to the possibilities of the future.

P – Pay attention to the blessings around you.

E – Enjoy the current moment, as much as you can.

Please continue holding onto the sense of hope within you.

It is the very thing that’s gotten you this far.

Why stop now?

With gratitude,

📚 #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
🎧 Host of the On Purpose Podcast
🙏 Former Monk

PS: Want your question answered in a future Weekly Wisdom newsletter? Submit your best questions here.

I always get asked for book recommendations. Here are 3 to get you started:

For Your Health

– When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

For Your Mind

– The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

For Your Soul

– The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Catch my latest podcast episode with Ryan Holiday: Why You Need to Reparent Your 14-Year-Old Self & How to Overcome the Fear of Not Being Good Enough

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