We all go through ups and downs: one minute everything seems to be working out, and the next we find something that makes us upset. These ups and downs, this constant change, are all part of being human. Just hold on and keep going through the current down, remembering that this moment will also change.
Every step you take in the direction you have chosen, no matter how hard it is, will make you stronger. When you are going through a difficult period, remember that the stronger you are, the more you will be able to accomplish in the future. Think of it like training for a difficult hike: at first, you might have barely been able to hike for 30 minutes. But if, every week you train consistently, no matter what, soon you will be hiking trails you never imagined you could. The more you train, the harder the paths you can take, because you are stronger and have more resilience.
Life is like that. The more challenges you have conquered, the stronger you become. When I first became a mother, I could hardly imagine taking care of my daughter and continuing with my job. I felt like I was holding on to my career and motherhood by my fingernails, but I learned, and I grew stronger.
Now, I have a bigger job and two more daughters! Each new experience taught me lessons and made me stronger, and more resilient. I grew, and I continue to grow.
But the rollercoaster continues, and it will continue no matter what. Life is impermanence, and that’s okay. That is the game, and we cannot change it. But we can change ourselves to be the best players we can be. We can learn to accept the changes and be present where we are, right now, not someplace else, or a week from now, or the weekend. Be here now, with the rollercoaster exactly as it is.
Who knows? You might be pleasantly surprised to be exactly where you are, finding joy right now.