Quote:
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
—Søren Kierkegaard
For a long time, I kept trying to understand everything while it was happening—why I felt anxious, why people argued, why certain days felt heavier than others. I wanted clarity first, and then the confidence to move forward. But life never worked that way. Most of the time, things felt confusing in the moment, and I blamed myself for not knowing what they meant.
When I read Kierkegaard’s line, something softened in me. I realized I didn’t have to understand every step as I took it. Some experiences only make sense later—after the emotions cool, after the situation passes, after I’ve grown enough to see it differently. Understanding is something that happens in hindsight, not in real time.
What I can do is keep moving. Keep showing up. Keep making choices with whatever clarity I have now. Even if I don’t fully understand a challenge, I will understand it eventually. The meaning comes after, not before.
Life isn’t asking me to predict it—only to live it. And somehow, that makes moving forward feel a little lighter.
2024-03-12