Whatever happens, happens for good
The very design of existence is for you to achieve victory. When you realize this, you will start seeing every difficulty, hurdle, and hardship as something to overcome rather than be depressed by.
It is easy to believe whatever happens is for good when you’re religious, but I doubt all who are religious also really believe it with all their heart. The dictum mostly survives as a feel-good belief that is used by people to console themselves when something bad happens to them so they don’t feel too bad at the moment.
Religion says, whatever happens, is for good because God has the best plan for you, and He knows best. So you’re not to judge your situation as good or bad, because you don’t know God’s plan.
So if one is truly religious, how can one ever be anything but optimistic in life? But the fact that most religious people are not always optimistic tells me they are not true believers.
I’m not a religious believer, and yet I’m religious in that I firmly believe whatever happens is for good. Although this belief of mine does not come from religion, I immensely respect religion because it too provides this belief to people. And I love the idea of God because it too supports this belief.
My belief: the simulation hypothesis
My belief that whatever happens is for good is an offshoot of my belief about existence. I believe we are computer simulations. Like a video game.
Imagine Super Mario, a computer game. You are the protagonist, Mario. You are the only player in the game with autonomy. All the other elements, living and non-living, are there for you to navigate through to victory. And there is victory by design. Whether you’ll achieve it or not depends on how well you play the game. In other words, on how well you learn through experiences.
Likewise, the very design of existence is for you to achieve victory. When you realize this, you will start seeing every difficulty, hurdle, and hardship as something to overcome rather than be depressed by.
Sadness and depression set in when you feel lost. But when you know that this is all just part of the game and that the game by design provides for eventual victory, then it all becomes a sport.
Then you don’t view failures as such. Every failure becomes a lesson and a stepping stone to the eventual victory. Every blow makes you stronger. Every bad experience strengthens your resolve.
So it is said, whatever happens, happens for good.