Let the Bhagavad Gita Remind You: All Life’s Ups and Downs Are Temporary
Riya Kumari | Feb 05, 2025, 23:59 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau, Timeslife )
People often search for answers during challenging times, seeking guidance on when their struggles will end, how to cope with life's emotional rollercoasters, and how to find peace and strength. They want reassurance that bad phases are temporary and that better times are ahead. Keywords reflect concerns about handling failure, overcoming setbacks, staying calm during turmoil, and accepting the impermanence of life.
We all know the feeling. One minute, you’re riding high, feeling like life is on your side. The next, it feels like the universe is throwing everything it’s got at you, and you’re left reeling. It's exhausting, isn't it? We want to find stability, to hold onto those moments of joy and avoid the pain of those moments of struggle. The problem is, we forget one simple truth: everything is temporary. And the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient text that’s more relevant today than ever, has something profound to say about how to live with this truth.
1. The Impermanence of Life
In the Gita, Krishna speaks directly to Arjuna, a warrior on the brink of a monumental battle. Arjuna is overwhelmed, unsure of his role, paralyzed by fear and doubt. And what does Krishna say to him? Not, “You’ve got this!” or “Everything will work out.” No, Krishna tells him something far more practical: “What you’re going through right now? It’s temporary. Just like the joy you’re feeling and the sorrow you’re enduring, it will pass.”
Life has a rhythm to it—like waves crashing on a shore. They rise, they fall, and they recede. Sometimes, the waves are gentle, and other times, they’re fierce. But in both cases, they don’t last forever. And this is a critical point. If we truly understood the transient nature of everything, we would stop taking everything so personally. The good moments? They’re not here to stay forever. And the bad moments? They won’t last forever either. Everything is in motion. The key is to stop clinging to these moments, whether they’re pleasant or painful, and start to live with a sense of equanimity.
2. Riding the Highs, Enduring the Lows
Now, let’s talk about the emotional rollercoaster we all seem to be on. One day, you feel invincible, like everything you touch turns to gold. And then—bam—something unexpected happens, and it feels like the universe just yanked the rug from beneath you. In those moments, it’s hard not to get caught up in the drama. But the Gita teaches us something simple: the highs and lows are both part of the same cycle. They’re connected. One gives way to the other. This is why Krishna urges Arjuna to stay rooted in the present moment, to do his duty without being overly attached to the outcome.
The emotions we feel, the joy we chase, the fears that hold us back—they all come from our attachments to outcomes, to people, to possessions, to ideas. We’ve convinced ourselves that if we just get this one thing, we’ll be happy. But that’s never how it works. Happiness and sorrow don’t come from external circumstances; they come from within. When you stop waiting for external things to define you, you can begin to understand that both the highs and lows are part of the same fleeting experience. They don't define you.
3. The Gift of Detachment
Now, let’s be clear here—detachment doesn’t mean becoming emotionless or cold. It doesn’t mean resigning yourself to apathy or inaction. It simply means understanding that what you’re going through isn’t the end of the world. That temporary setback you’re facing? It doesn’t define your worth. The moment of victory you're savoring? It’s fleeting too. In the Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that the only thing we truly control is our response to the world around us. And this is a gift. Because once you accept the transience of everything—your success, your failures, your pain, and your pleasure—you’re free to just be.
Detachment, in this sense, is the realization that you don’t need to chase after fleeting joys or agonize over temporary pain. You can stand firm in who you are, regardless of what’s happening outside of you. It’s about learning to navigate life with grace, without getting tossed around by every wave.
4. Embracing the Present Moment
There’s another lesson here, and it’s perhaps the most crucial: live in the present. We’re so often trapped in the past or future, obsessing over what we should have done or what might happen. The Gita constantly reminds us to focus on the here and now. The past is a memory. The future is a possibility. But the present? It’s all we have. Krishna urges Arjuna to focus on his dharma—his duty—in the present moment, without being overly concerned with success or failure. The only thing that matters is that you show up, do what’s right, and keep moving forward.
This lesson is especially relevant in a world that constantly pushes us to look ahead, to plan, to hustle for that next big thing. But in doing so, we miss out on the richness of the present moment. We miss out on the joy that comes from simply being alive, in this moment, exactly as it is. Life is not a race to the finish line—it’s a journey, and the only thing that matters is how you move through it.
5. The Power of Acceptance
At the end of the day, accepting that everything is temporary doesn’t mean giving up or resigning ourselves to a life of passivity. It means recognizing that life isn’t always going to go your way—and that’s okay. It means accepting the ebb and flow of emotions, knowing that neither the highs nor the lows will last forever. It means living fully, knowing that every moment is precious because it is fleeting.
So, the next time you find yourself stuck in a moment of intense joy or deep despair, take a breath. Remember that this too shall pass. And in the meantime, do your duty, be present, and trust that everything you’re going through is part of a larger, temporary journey. Because in the end, it’s not about avoiding the ups and downs—it’s about learning how to ride them with grace and acceptance.
1. The Impermanence of Life
Sad women
( Image credit : Pexels )
In the Gita, Krishna speaks directly to Arjuna, a warrior on the brink of a monumental battle. Arjuna is overwhelmed, unsure of his role, paralyzed by fear and doubt. And what does Krishna say to him? Not, “You’ve got this!” or “Everything will work out.” No, Krishna tells him something far more practical: “What you’re going through right now? It’s temporary. Just like the joy you’re feeling and the sorrow you’re enduring, it will pass.”
Life has a rhythm to it—like waves crashing on a shore. They rise, they fall, and they recede. Sometimes, the waves are gentle, and other times, they’re fierce. But in both cases, they don’t last forever. And this is a critical point. If we truly understood the transient nature of everything, we would stop taking everything so personally. The good moments? They’re not here to stay forever. And the bad moments? They won’t last forever either. Everything is in motion. The key is to stop clinging to these moments, whether they’re pleasant or painful, and start to live with a sense of equanimity.
2. Riding the Highs, Enduring the Lows
Happy women
( Image credit : Pexels )
Now, let’s talk about the emotional rollercoaster we all seem to be on. One day, you feel invincible, like everything you touch turns to gold. And then—bam—something unexpected happens, and it feels like the universe just yanked the rug from beneath you. In those moments, it’s hard not to get caught up in the drama. But the Gita teaches us something simple: the highs and lows are both part of the same cycle. They’re connected. One gives way to the other. This is why Krishna urges Arjuna to stay rooted in the present moment, to do his duty without being overly attached to the outcome.
The emotions we feel, the joy we chase, the fears that hold us back—they all come from our attachments to outcomes, to people, to possessions, to ideas. We’ve convinced ourselves that if we just get this one thing, we’ll be happy. But that’s never how it works. Happiness and sorrow don’t come from external circumstances; they come from within. When you stop waiting for external things to define you, you can begin to understand that both the highs and lows are part of the same fleeting experience. They don't define you.
3. The Gift of Detachment
Meditate
( Image credit : Pexels )
Now, let’s be clear here—detachment doesn’t mean becoming emotionless or cold. It doesn’t mean resigning yourself to apathy or inaction. It simply means understanding that what you’re going through isn’t the end of the world. That temporary setback you’re facing? It doesn’t define your worth. The moment of victory you're savoring? It’s fleeting too. In the Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that the only thing we truly control is our response to the world around us. And this is a gift. Because once you accept the transience of everything—your success, your failures, your pain, and your pleasure—you’re free to just be.
Detachment, in this sense, is the realization that you don’t need to chase after fleeting joys or agonize over temporary pain. You can stand firm in who you are, regardless of what’s happening outside of you. It’s about learning to navigate life with grace, without getting tossed around by every wave.
4. Embracing the Present Moment
Present
( Image credit : Pexels )
There’s another lesson here, and it’s perhaps the most crucial: live in the present. We’re so often trapped in the past or future, obsessing over what we should have done or what might happen. The Gita constantly reminds us to focus on the here and now. The past is a memory. The future is a possibility. But the present? It’s all we have. Krishna urges Arjuna to focus on his dharma—his duty—in the present moment, without being overly concerned with success or failure. The only thing that matters is that you show up, do what’s right, and keep moving forward.
This lesson is especially relevant in a world that constantly pushes us to look ahead, to plan, to hustle for that next big thing. But in doing so, we miss out on the richness of the present moment. We miss out on the joy that comes from simply being alive, in this moment, exactly as it is. Life is not a race to the finish line—it’s a journey, and the only thing that matters is how you move through it.
5. The Power of Acceptance
Lotus
( Image credit : Pexels )
At the end of the day, accepting that everything is temporary doesn’t mean giving up or resigning ourselves to a life of passivity. It means recognizing that life isn’t always going to go your way—and that’s okay. It means accepting the ebb and flow of emotions, knowing that neither the highs nor the lows will last forever. It means living fully, knowing that every moment is precious because it is fleeting.
So, the next time you find yourself stuck in a moment of intense joy or deep despair, take a breath. Remember that this too shall pass. And in the meantime, do your duty, be present, and trust that everything you’re going through is part of a larger, temporary journey. Because in the end, it’s not about avoiding the ups and downs—it’s about learning how to ride them with grace and acceptance.