The most inspiring piece of advice I've gotten is simply to

The words of Liya Kebede, “The most inspiring piece of advice I've gotten is simply to persevere. My mom taught me to always keep going no matter what from an early age. When it feels too difficult to push forward, I always remind myself, ‘This too shall pass,’ and then I redouble my efforts,” carry the luminous wisdom of generations. They speak not only of endurance but of faith — faith that every darkness fades, that no pain lasts forever, and that the spirit, when tested, is strengthened by struggle. In these simple, tender words, passed from mother to daughter, there is a timeless truth: perseverance is not just the act of surviving hardship, but the art of transforming it into growth.

The ancients called this power fortitude, the steady flame that burns through storms. It is not dramatic; it is quiet, patient, and enduring. Liya Kebede’s story — from a young woman in Ethiopia to a model, actress, and humanitarian — is a living testament to that flame. Her mother’s teaching, “keep going no matter what,” is not mere advice; it is the song of every soul that has walked through difficulty and refused to fall. “This too shall pass,” she says, reminding us of the great rhythm that governs all things: joy and sorrow, success and failure, are temporary states. Nothing is fixed. Time, like a river, carries away even the heaviest stones if we have the courage to endure.

This phrase, “This too shall pass,” has ancient roots, reaching deep into the wisdom of both the East and the West. In Persian tradition, it was a proverb inscribed upon the ring of King Solomon, a reminder to the mighty that triumph and despair alike are fleeting. When he was joyous, it humbled him; when he was broken, it comforted him. Liya Kebede’s use of these words continues that legacy. It is the same eternal whisper that steadies the human heart through centuries — a truth that says: pain is not punishment, struggle is not failure, and persistence is the bridge between suffering and peace.

Consider the example of Nelson Mandela, who endured twenty-seven years in prison, stripped of freedom, family, and dignity. He, too, must have whispered to himself, “This too shall pass.” Yet his perseverance was not mere waiting; it was active endurance — he studied, reflected, and prepared his heart for the future. When freedom finally came, he emerged not bitter, but enlightened. Like Kebede’s lesson, his life shows that perseverance is not about ignoring hardship; it is about believing in transformation, about holding onto light even when surrounded by shadow.

There is a sacred rhythm to perseverance. It demands not only endurance but renewal. When Liya Kebede says, “I redouble my efforts,” she reveals the secret strength of the spirit — the ability to rise again after being struck down. Every time the will falters, the memory of purpose must rekindle it. The warrior of the heart does not rush blindly forward; she pauses, breathes, remembers why she began, and moves again with greater wisdom. This is not stubbornness — it is spiritual resilience, the ability to endure without losing compassion, to struggle without losing joy.

Her mother’s wisdom also carries the echo of ancestral guidance, the kind that is spoken not in books, but in daily acts of courage. To persevere is to honor those who came before, who kept walking even when the road was long and the destination unclear. It is the gift every generation must pass on — the unbreakable faith that the human spirit cannot be defeated by circumstance. The body may tire, the mind may doubt, but the heart, if it holds this truth, will always find a way to continue.

The lesson, then, is as clear as the dawn: whatever you face, keep going. The storm will not last. The grief will soften. The mountain will yield to those who climb. Do not mistake hardship for failure — it is the very forge that shapes greatness. When the world feels heavy, remember Liya Kebede’s mother’s words: “Keep going, no matter what.” When your spirit trembles, whisper to yourself, “This too shall pass.” Then rise — slowly, deliberately — and redouble your efforts, for the light ahead is waiting for those who never stop walking.

And so, to those who listen: take this wisdom into your own heart. Perseverance is not a gift; it is a practice. Cultivate it daily. When pain comes, meet it with patience; when joy comes, meet it with gratitude. Keep your eyes on the horizon, for every dawn begins in darkness. And know that within you, as within Liya Kebede, burns the same eternal strength — the quiet, unyielding power to endure, to transform, and to overcome.