The Strawberry and Chocolate Club

Finding Clarity in Chaos – A Simple Shift That Changes Everything

I was walking home from the metro station, navigating a busy, dug-up, dusty street in Mumbai. The air was thick with construction debris, the honking of impatient drivers filled my ears, and my shoes were coated in a layer of grime. Every step felt like an obstacle course, dodging potholes and sidestepping hurried commuters.

As I often do, I picked up my phone and held it to my ear, pretending to be on a call. But I wasn’t speaking to anyone—I was talking to myself. It’s a habit I’ve developed over the years, a way to process my thoughts without inviting strange looks from passersby. Out here, in the chaos of the city, it’s easier to pretend I’m having a conversation with a friend rather than admitting I’m having one with myself. And honestly, some of my best insights come from these “phone calls.”

“Will this walk last forever? No. So why am I letting it ruin my evening?”

It hit me—every problem in life is temporary. The traffic, the bad day at work, the fight with a friend, even the crushing self-doubt that sometimes creeps in. None of it is permanent.

I’ve been reflecting on this a lot since returning to India from Toronto. I came back thinking I’d finally find a place of respect in my own home country. Instead, I’ve been met with bad behavior and suffocating pollution. It’s frustrating, disheartening even. But then I remind myself—two years ago, I never thought I’d be in Toronto. Before that, I was in Pune. Life is unpredictable. We don’t always know where we’ll end up or for how long.

I started applying this mindset to everything. When a work deadline stressed me out, I reminded myself, “This pressure won’t last forever.” When loneliness settled in like an unwelcome guest, I told myself, “Feelings are visitors; they don’t stay forever.” And when I faced rejections—jobs, relationships, even friendships—I reminded myself, “This, too, will pass.”

Life is a series of moments, some heavy, some light. But no single moment defines us. When we zoom out and remind ourselves that no storm lasts forever, we give ourselves the grace to endure, to breathe, and to move forward.

So the next time you find yourself in a metaphorical traffic jam—whether it’s stress, heartbreak, or uncertainty—ask yourself: “Will this last forever?” The answer is always no. And that simple shift in perspective might just change everything.