Everything Will Workout- Because it Has To

When you’re young, every setback feels catastrophic. A failed test, a breakup, an embarrassing moment—it all feels like the world is crashing down around you. I vividly remember sobbing over things that now barely register as memories. Back then, my inner monologue was a relentless spiral of “well that’s it, I’m done for.” Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.

My mom used to say something to this effect: the things I was sobbing over at 15 more than likely wouldn’t even be things I could remember at 25. At the time, I’m sure I rolled my eyes through the tears, convinced she just didn’t get it. But she did. She wasn’t dismissing my feelings; she was teaching me perspective. She’d remind me to feel the feelings, let them run their course, and then let them go—not for the sake of the world, but for my own self-care.

As you age, you realize a universal truth: it will all work out because it has to. (I’m not trying to be philosophical here—that’s just the truth.) Life has a way of moving forward, no matter how hard we try to stomp on the breaks. It’s not about ignoring problems or pretending they don’t hurt; it’s about trusting that time will smooth out the sharp edges and that you’ll find a way through, even if it’s messy.

I’ve learned to lean into that belief—not because I’m endlessly optimistic (trust me, I’ve doom-scrolled TikTok at 3 a.m. like the rest of us), but because I’ve seen it proven time and time again. I’ve survived heartbreaks I thought would shatter me, deadlines that felt impossible, and mistakes that made me cringe to my core. And guess what? I’m still standing. You are too.

“It will all work out because it has to” mantra isn’t about magical thinking. It’s about resilience. It’s about knowing that no matter how bad it feels right now, you have the tools to adapt, adjust, and rebuild. It’s a reminder that life doesn’t stop for our panic; it just keeps going, and so do we.

There’s so much freedom in allowing yourself to feel the weight of a moment without letting it define you. My mom’s advice wasn’t about avoiding pain—it was about learning how to hold it and then set it down. She understood that self-care isn’t just bubble baths and candles (though those are nice); it’s finding the courage to move forward even when the path feels unclear. It’s knowing that this moment, no matter how big it feels, is just one thread in a much larger tapestry.

So, the next time you’re spiraling about something that feels like the end of the world, take a deep breath and repeat it: “It will all work out, because it has to.” Not because it’ll be perfect, but because you’re stronger and more capable than you think. And maybe, just maybe, one day you’ll look back and realize the thing you thought would break you built you. And if you’re lucky, you’ll hear your mom’s voice in the back of your mind, reminding you that she was right all along.

(P.S. Love you mom) xoxo