It’s Just the Second Act

So you’re going through a hard time. 

It’s okay. We’ve all been there, and it won’t be our last time. 

But right now, that’s where you are. And it sucks. It’s hard. It feels like you can’t catch a break while the universe keeps throwing more and more at you. You’re dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging these obstacles, all while praying it’ll end soon. After all, this is Hell, isn’t it?

Well, no. It’s just the Second Act. 

In screenwriting, the second act is the long stretch between, you guessed it, Act One and Act Three. Act Two is the messy middle - the hardest part of the story - because it’s also where real growth happens. The Main Character is challenged in every way, facing obstacle after obstacle. But these trials are exactly what shape them into the person they need to become for Act Three. 

This is where you are: The Second Act. 

A rough map of where you are.

You’re Neo in The Matrix, having just heard the Oracle tell you that you’re not actually “The One”. Even worse, Morpheus has been captured. Well that sounds like a job for “The One" and, as you’ve just heard, that’s not you. So what now? Game over? Cut to black? The end, roll credits? What a disappointing story that would be. 

If it ended there, Neo would never go on to stop bullets and literally jump into the agents, embedding himself into their code and blowing them up from the inside. I mean, you’re not going to do that, but you get the point.

You’re not stuck; you’re growing. Every setback, every obstacle, every uphill step you take… these aren’t signs that you’re failing. They’re signs that you’re in the thick of the story. This is where your character is built, where you find the strength, resilience, and wisdom you need to succeed in Act Three. 

The Second Act is temporary. It’s the process of becoming. It’s meant to be hard. But just like every great story, it doesn’t last forever. The Third Act is coming - the resolution, the triumph, the reward for your perseverance. 

And since you get to write your own life - the one in which you’re the Main Character - remember this any time you feel like giving up, or when it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember that the best stories always have the most challenging Second Acts because the most challenging Second Acts create the best characters, and lead to the most rewarding Third Acts. 

Keep writing your story, keep pushing through, and know that your Act Three is coming.