an old story, often
shared across Middle Eastern
and Eastern traditions, about
a wise king who sought a way
to remain balanced in all
circumstances.
Despite his power and success,
the king found himself deeply
affected by life’s changing
tides. Moments of joy made
him overly attached, and
moments of difficulty brought
him great distress.
He desired a reminder,
something that would help
him remain steady regardless
of what life presented.
He called upon the sages of his
kingdom and asked them to
create a ring that would carry
a message powerful enough to
guide him in both happiness
and sorrow.
After much contemplation, the
sages presented him with a
simple ring.
On it was engraved a single
line:
“This too shall pass.
”
At first, the king found the
message almost too simple.
Yet, as life unfolded, its depth
revealed itself.
In times of celebration, when
victories filled the palace and
praise surrounded him, he
would look at the ring.
The words would gently
remind him that even these
moments were transient.
His joy became more
grounded, free from the fear of
losing it.
In moments of difficulty, when
challenges arose and
uncertainty clouded his mind,
he would turn to the same
ring.
The message would meet him
again, steady and reassuring.
This too shall pass.
Gradually, the king discovered
a new way of being. He was no
longer carried away by the
highs, nor overwhelmed by
the lows.
Instead, he remained
centred, present, and aware
of the ever-changing nature
of life.
This story holds a quiet yet
powerful insight into
relationships.
Many conflicts arise from
our tendency to hold on to
moments, to emotions, to
words spoken in passing.
We react as if what we feel
now will remain forever. A
disagreement feels
permanent. A
misunderstanding feels
final.
Yet, life is in constant
movement.
When we recognise the
transient nature of emotions
and situations, something
within us relaxes. We respond
with greater patience.
We allow space for change. We
stop reacting to the moment as
if it defines the whole.
Meditation deepens this
understanding. By observing
the flow of thoughts and
emotions, we begin to see their
impermanence directly.
Nothing stays.
Everything moves.
And in that realisation,
relationships begin to soften.
We become less rigid, less
reactive, and more open to the
unfolding of each moment.
The king did not change his
circumstances.
He changed his relationship
with them. And in doing so, he
found balance.
And perhaps that is where true
wisdom begins. Not in
controlling life, nor in holding
on to what we cherish, but in
meeting each moment with a
quiet awareness that it will
pass, just as the next will arrive.
In that gentle acceptance, the
heart finds ease, the mind finds
clarity, and life begins to flow
with a grace that no l
A
That’s a beautifully told version of the “This too shall pass” story—simple on the surface, but it carries a lot of psychological weight.
What makes it powerful isn’t just the idea of impermanence (which also shows up in Buddhism and Stoicism), but how it changes behavior in real moments. It’s easy to nod along with “everything passes,” but the real shift happens when that insight interrupts your reaction while it’s happening.
A couple of grounded takeaways from what you shared:
1. It stabilizes both extremes—not just pain
People often use “this too shall pass” as comfort during hard times. But the story points out something more subtle: it also tempers excessive attachment to good moments. That matters, because clinging to highs often creates the fear of losing them—which quietly becomes suffering.
2. It creates a pause between feeling and reacting
In relationships especially, this is huge. When you assume a feeling is permanent (“this always happens,” “they always do this”), you react as if it defines reality.
But if you really see it as temporary, you’re more likely to wait, listen, or respond instead of escalating.
3. It doesn’t mean passivity
There’s a common misunderstanding: accepting that things pass doesn’t mean you do nothing. It means you act without the distortion that this moment is everything. That tends to make actions clearer, not weaker.
4. It shifts identity—from the wave to the observer
What meditation adds, as you mentioned, is direct evidence. You start noticing:
- a thought arises
- it lingers
- it fades
That experience gradually breaks the illusion that “what I feel right now is who I am” or “this will last forever.”
One thing worth gently challenging:
This idea can be misused to avoid dealing with real issues—especially in relationships. Not everything should just be “let pass.” Some things need to be addressed, communicated, or changed.
The balance is:
- Feel it fully
- Recognize it’s temporary
- Then decide consciously what to do about it
The line you started with from Lao Tzu and this story actually point to the same place:
- Stillness → you don’t get swept away
- Impermanence → you don’t cling or resist
- Together → you act with clarity instead of reactivity
That’s not mystical—it’s a very practical mental skill.
Curious—when you read this, did it feel more like something comforting, or something challenging to actually live by?
