Today’s pain is tomorrow’s wisdom. Yet, we often crave immediate relief and seek ways to escape discomfort in the moment. If only we could recognize that, like any stressful experience, perspective is just around the corner, ready to remind us of our resilience and capability to endure suffering.

Can you identify a past distressing experience that has shifted and evolved as you’ve gained perspective? Are you able to recall the desperation you felt in that moment compared to your perception of it now? It wouldn’t be surprising if it evokes two very different extremes in terms of how you felt then versus now.

It can be incredibly helpful to remind ourselves just how temporary a moment is. Sometimes, we must repeat this to ourselves over and over as a mantra to withstand the pain and make it through to the other side. A mantra provides us with a word or short phrase to focus on, to chant to ourselves in the present moment as a means of survival. Mantras can guide us through the darkness until perspective gradually eases into our psyche.

Take time to develop your own survival mantra. While you’re thinking about it, I’ll share a few of mine:

“This too shall pass”

“Just this moment”

“Temporary”

“Just for today”

Gaining perspective is all about having the tools to reach that point.