Why “This Too Shall Pass” Still Feels Like the Deepest Kind of Comfort

Some phrases have a way of weaving themselves into the very fabric of life—used in hospital rooms and heartbreaks, whispered through job loss or whispered to ourselves at 3 AM when nothing seems right. “This too shall pass” is one of them.

It’s short, it’s soft, and it doesn’t promise much—except, maybe, the one thing we often need most: that what hurts now won’t hurt forever.

It isn’t flashy or poetic. It doesn’t insist on a silver lining. And that’s its brilliance. This too shall pass simply acknowledges what we instinctively know but often forget—that nothing lasts forever, not even the hard stuff.

Why It Still Works in the Age of Overstimulation

In a world drowning in inspirational quotes, over-shared platitudes, and aggressively curated positivity, “this too shall pass” feels like the odd one out. Understated. Unbothered. It doesn’t try to fix you. It just holds your hand until you can stand again.

We live in a culture that leans hard into “fixing” discomfort. We want fast answers, fast healing, and faster internet speeds. So when something quiet, ancient, and emotionally wise comes along, it hits different. Especially for those of us burned out on toxic positivity and wellness clichés.

This phrase doesn’t deny the pain. It doesn’t belittle the struggle. It just assures you that change is constant—and so is your ability to withstand it.

The Psychology Behind the Comfort

There’s actual science behind why this phrase feels good. Here’s what’s going on in our brains:

1. It Offers Cognitive Reframing

“This too shall pass” helps shift your focus from now to next. It nudges your mind out of spiraling in the current discomfort and toward a more balanced perspective. Psychologists call this temporal distancing—viewing the present moment as part of a larger timeline instead of the whole story.

2. It Activates the Prefrontal Cortex

Repeating grounding phrases (especially ones with rhythmic cadence) has been shown to activate the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for rational thinking, decision-making, and emotional regulation. In short: it helps calm the storm.

3. It Encourages Emotional Endurance

It’s not about blind optimism. “This too shall pass” reminds us that our discomfort, grief, or stress is temporary, not terminal. That awareness alone can make a hard moment feel more bearable.

A recent study by Stephan and Sedikides, published in Personality and Social Psychology Review, found that mental time travel can boost self-esteem, strengthen personal narrative, and improve your sense of control.

When the Phrase Hits Hardest

Not all phrases have the same power in every situation. But “this too shall pass” seems to show up in all the right moments:

• When you’ve been ghosted by a job application again
• When the breakup ache won’t let up
• When the panic of adulthood feels like too much
• When you’re grieving a person, or a version of yourself you no longer recognize
• When your bank account’s low and your stress is high

It floats in gently. It doesn’t try to rally you with #grindset quotes or spiritual bypassing. It just... sits with you.

That’s the kind of comfort that’s aged remarkably well.

Why the Simplicity Is So Powerful

There’s nothing trendy about this phrase—and that’s the point. It doesn’t lean on metaphors or heavy language. It doesn’t moralize. It just is.

In the same way that black coffee or handwritten letters have never gone out of style, the phrase endures because it doesn’t try too hard. It’s both the whisper and the exhale. Something about its simplicity leaves room for your own experience, your own timeline, and your own kind of healing.

Is It Always Helpful?

Let’s be honest. There are times when the phrase can feel hollow—like a band-aid over a broken bone. For people going through deep grief, long-term trauma, or chronic illness, the phrase can seem dismissive if not delivered with care.

But in those cases, it still holds a quiet kind of resonance. Not as a fix. But as a reminder that change is natural, and no single state defines you forever.

It’s less of a solution and more of a spiritual north star: your current season is not your permanent identity.

How It’s Being Reclaimed in Modern Culture

Interestingly, younger generations—particularly Millennials and Gen Z—are breathing new life into this ancient phrase.

You’ll find it on minimalist tattoos, in viral TikToks that blend humor and heartbreak, and in modern therapy sessions as a form of emotional grounding. It’s made its way back into popular vernacular not as a slogan, but as a survival mantra.

Because in an age where everything is loud, fast, and performative, this little phrase says what few others do: you don’t need to be okay right now. You just need to remember that you won’t feel this way forever.

How to Use It (When It’s Needed Most)

You don’t need to embroider it on a pillow (though you could). Instead, use it the way people have for centuries: as a low-pressure, high-impact mental anchor.

Try saying it:

• After a tough conversation you can’t stop replaying
• When you wake up anxious about the future
• When a plan falls through and disappointment stings
• In the middle of a restless night, when everything feels heavier than it is

And when you're on the other side of something difficult, say it again. Not as a warning this time, but as a quiet celebration of having made it through.

Why It’s Worth Passing Down

We live in an era of hot takes, quick fixes, and headline reactions. But some things—like the ache of growing older, the sting of disappointment, the ache of watching someone you love suffer—require deeper anchoring.

“This too shall pass” has survived not because it solves anything, but because it survives with us. It reminds us that time is both tender and powerful. That things change. That we change.

And that’s worth remembering, repeating, and passing down.

Timeless Tips

1. Don’t rush it. Let the words settle like a warm cup of tea. This phrase isn’t a race—it’s a resting place.
2. Use it with your body. Pair it with a deep breath or a hand on your heart. The physical grounding enhances the emotional effect.
3. Write it down. Put it somewhere visible: your mirror, your journal, a sticky note in your wallet.
4. Pass it on. When someone you love is going through something, this is a gentle offering—not advice, but presence.
5. Don’t wait for a crisis. Use the phrase during joyful moments, too. It’s a humble reminder that good things are worth noticing before they slip away.

The Deep Beauty of What Passes—and What Stays

There’s something strangely luxurious about a phrase that doesn’t demand anything of you. “This too shall pass” doesn’t try to fix, explain, or sugarcoat. It simply sits with you in the storm and gently gestures to the horizon.

We live in a world that changes fast—but some things endure. Grace. Stillness. The knowledge that nothing lasts forever. And in that awareness, we find not sadness—but relief.

So the next time the moment feels like too much, just pause. Let the words rise:

This too shall pass.

Because, darling, it always does.