This Too Shall Pass, In Theory
"This too shall pass" is a beautiful idea.
In theory.
In practice, it's much harder to lean on when your mind isn't cooperating, when focus slips, thoughts blur, and even simple decisions feel oddly out of reach. The phrase assumes you can step back and hold perspective.
But what if the thing you're dealing with is what's taken that perspective away?
You may know things will resolve. Energy returns. Clarity comes back. But knowing it and being able to function from that knowing are not the same.
It's like having the map while temporarily losing the ability to read it.
The same gap shows up in the way people talk about AI. The promise is effortless assistance: type something in, get something smart back. Instant clarity on demand.
Again, in theory.
In reality, if you care about the outcome, it still requires attention. Judgment. Iteration. You have to notice when something is close but not quite right. You have to refine. And that takes mental sharpness, the very thing that isn't always available when you need it most.
The tool doesn't replace clarity. It depends on it.
"This too shall pass" is still true. But in the middle of the fog, it feels less like reassurance and more like a fact you're waiting to re-experience.