Quote of the day by Shakira: ‘Even when you feel like you’re falling down an abyss, there’s always...' 5 lessons on finding strength in difficult times

There are moments in life when problems arrive all at once and finding a way forward feels nearly impossible. During those periods, family, friends, and even the things we love doing can become more important than we realise. Pop singer Shakira once captured that feeling through a powerful metaphor about falling into an abyss and discovering that someone may still be there to catch you. Speaking to ELLE in September 2022 during what she described as one of the “darkest” periods of her life, the Colombian singer said: “Even when you feel like you’re falling down an abyss and there’s no end to that abyss, there’s always a certain safety net at the bottom.” For Shakira, that safety net was formed by family, friends and people who continued to support her when life became difficult.

What did Shakira mean by the quote?

Shakira's words came while she was discussing how she planned to move forward after a turbulent period involving her separation from Gerard Piqué, concerns surrounding her father's health and intense public scrutiny. She explained that when life tests people, they often discover a “helping hand” they can hold on to. The singer described friendship as perhaps one of the longest-lasting forms of love and revealed that friends and fellow musicians regularly checked on her. Her message wasn't that hardship magically disappears. Rather, even when someone feels as though everything is collapsing, the relationships they have built can provide the support needed to begin climbing back.

5 lessons to learn from Shakira's quote

1. Difficult moments don't necessarily last forever: When you're inside a crisis, it can feel endless. Shakira's metaphor reminds us that today's lowest point doesn't automatically determine what comes next.


2. Don't underestimate your support system: Family and friends may not be able to solve every problem, but simply having someone who listens, checks in or stays beside you can make difficult periods less isolating.

3. Asking for support isn't weakness: Falling into Shakira's metaphorical “safety net” requires accepting that we sometimes need other people. Independence and receiving help don't have to be opposites.

4. Find something that helps you process difficult emotions: For Shakira, that outlet was music. She told ELLE that writing helped her process emotions and described music as a “life raft” during extreme circumstances.

5. You may be stronger than you think: A year later, during Billboard Latin Music Week, Shakira reflected on the same difficult period and said she had discovered she was “less fragile” than she previously believed.

Shakira has faced setbacks before

The singer's comments also fit a much longer story of resilience. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Shakira recalled suffering a haemorrhage in her vocal cords that temporarily left her unable to sing. She described losing her voice as “unbearable”, but eventually recovered and returned to performing. She also told the publication that she wanted her children to understand the obstacles she had encountered, not just hear about her successes, because “life isn't always easy.”