I had a random thought about time and how it can reveal the true value of things when the phrase “to stand the test of time” popped into my head. Even though I knew what it meant for something to stand the test of time, I still decided to research more on how it can apply to our lives.
Time not only changes things, it tests things. Time determines the value of things, relationships, and structures such that something is real when it is durable and enduring.
This post will show you different ways to define the phrase “stand the test of time”, and how you can build 5 important aspects of your life to stand the test of time.
Stand The Test of Time Definitions
Here are some concise definitions of the phrase “to stand the test of time”.
- The Collins Dictionary — “something strong and effective enough to last for a very long time”.
- Cambridge Dictionary — “something still popular and strong, etc. after a long time” or “to work well over a long period of time”.
- Merriam-Webster — “to continue to be important, respected, etc., for a long period of time”.
- The Farlex Dictionary of Idioms — “To work, function, or endure for a very long time.”
- Mc-Graw Hill — “to be well regarded; to last for a long time”.
- The Dictionary of Clichés — “Proved to be of lasting value”.
- Wiktionary — “To remain useful or valued over a long period of time; to last a long time.”
Different sources define the phrase “to stand the test of time” differently but they essentially mean the same thing. For something to stand the test of time, it must be durable, relevant, and still viable after a long period.
Stand The Test of Time Examples
There are many areas where durability and long-term relevance apply. Even though nothing lasts forever, there are many well-known creations that have stood the test of time and shown their relevance and durability over time.
For example, the Great Wall of China is a historical monument that has stood the test of time, enduring both natural and man-made forces alike. The works of William Shakespeare written in the late 16th and 17th century are still studied and read today demonstrating their relevance in the current day. Also, the US Constitution ratified in 1788 still serves as the supreme law of the United States even after two centuries.
These are examples of what it means to stand the test of time.
Building long-term relevance applies to most aspects of your life. In the next section, you will see some key areas where you should focus on building durability and long-term relevance.
How To Make Something Stand The Test of Time
In this section, I will show you important aspects of life where ‘standing the test of time’ matters and how you can build these aspects of your life to stand the test of time.
1. Love and relationship
To make your relationship stand the test of time, you need to look beyond just having fun and focusing on the more important things in a relationship. Think about the future of the relationship and not just the immediate pleasure you want to derive from it. That way, you can build a stronger foundation for the relationship.
Except if you want a one-off thing or a one-night stand, building a long-lasting relationship requires you to ask the right questions. For a moment, isolate yourself from the emotions and pleasure, then ask yourself “Do I really love to spend my entire life with this person”, “What do I see of this relationship in the next 30-40 years”, etc.
Define your priority in the relationship, think about the challenges that may arise, and plan ahead of them. If you want your relationship/marriage to stand the test of time, you have to be intentional in building it to become so.
2. Business and entrepreneurship
Starting a business can be challenging but sustaining a growing business is even more challenging. It requires patience, resilience, and dedication to the business and its operations.
The ultimate aim of establishing a business is to make it self-sufficient and lucrative. Sometimes, you make profits, other times, you hit setbacks. However, resilience and commitment are the greatest guarantee for the sustainability and durability of your business.
Just like other aspects of life where long-term relevance matters, you always need to plan with the future in mind. Think critically and futuristically before you adopt any strategies or policies that affect your business.
It is important to stay patient and resilient through any phase of your business. If you don’t give up, you can be guaranteed that it will stand the test of time too.
3. Physical structures
Like the example of the Great Wall of China which has stood over many centuries, making long-lasting physical structures is considered the goal. Whether you are erecting a building or creating a structural piece, it needs to be made to stand the test of time.
Creating physical structures that stand the test of time requires using the right materials, having a sustainable engineering or architectural plan if it is a building, and so on.
Many people sacrifice durability on the altar of trying to cut costs. However, if you want your design to stand the test of time, you must also factor in durability in your materials and methodology as much as possible.
4. Friendship
Nothing lasts forever, not even friendship but for something to stand the test of time, it means it has stayed long enough to be acknowledged as being durable.
If you want to build a friendship that stands the test of time, you should give priority to a lot of things. These include creating a foundation of trust and loyalty, selflessness, and tolerance. When you prove to your friend that you are worth being with forever, you can be guaranteed to have a good relationship with him/her for a very long time.
Even when situations of life and other circumstances separate you from each other, you will be confident that when you meet again, it will be full of good memories of the old times.
5. Goodwill and habits
Good habits can easily get corrupted over time when one gets exposed to a different influence. Bad habits can also be changed through deliberate intention to do so.
We often say that something has stood the test of time if it is a favorable thing that has lasted long enough. That means if you want to make your good habits stand the test of time, you have to consciously put in the required effort.
To sustain your goodwill, you have to understand the main reasons why you do what you do. Irrespective of how people treat you, you should always stick to your own beliefs and not to allow society bring out a monster in you.
When you consistently uphold your good habits and goodwill, thus making it stand the test of time, people will truly value you and accept that you are genuine in all you do. And remember, there is a reward for being good.
General Tips To Make Anything Stand The Test of Time
This is a summary of some points discussed above. To make anything you do stand the test of time, be it relationships, physical structures, or establishments, here are some general tips to follow.
- Build trust: Trust is the foundation of every lasting relationship. Deal honestly with your partners and prove to them that you can be trusted.
- Plan ahead: To make something stand the test of time, you need to think ahead of the future when planning for it. Critically analyze and prospectively think of problems and challenges that may arise in the future, and do your best to provide solutions to them even before they arise.
- Use the right materials: For physical structures to stand the test of time, you need to use the right materials and a good blueprint that addresses all possible physical and environmental problems that may arise.
- Be consistent: Good habits can be tested over time. By staying consistent, you can reinforce them and make them become parts of your normal ‘unforced’ behavior.
- Continuous improvement: Continuous improvement comes from the Japanese word ‘Kaizen’ which means “good change”. It is a business philosophy that reflects a continuous need to improve and get better.
- Renovate and reinvent: New policies and cyclical weather changes can affect the quality of an establishment or a physical structure, respectively, which is why you must continually renovate and reinvent your methods to keep up with the changing times.
