Impermanence

 Nothing in this physical universe lasts forever.  That’s the lesson of impermanence.

If you can appreciate and accept this fact, then nothing that happens to you, bad or good, should live too long in your mind.  The Chinese philosopher and teacher Lao Tzu was a huge advocate of not resting on ones laurels.  Understanding that even the greatest victories are short-lived is key to understanding impermanence.  Likewise, understanding that even the greatest tragedies are overcome with time is also key to understanding impermanence.  Intellectually, it is a very simple concept to grasp.  Again, nothing lasts forever.

But we all fall victim to this idea that our suffering is insurmountable and so uniquely special as to be incomprehensible by others.  Our suffering sets us apart.  It reinforces our feelings of aloneness.  And it is strengthened by our failure to remember the principle of impermanence: nothing lasts forever.  That includes suffering, whether we like it or not.  We all have known moments of suffering that we have consciously or unconsciously prolonged simply because it plays to the “victim” mentality.  We forget impermanence and cling to what makes us unhappy.

The good and bad in life ebb and flow like a great spiritual tide throughout our lives.  Acknowledgment that all things change, including that which we wish would not, is a step towards acceptance of what is.  Acceptance and surrender are different.  I do not advocate surrendering to the tide.  In fact, I would advocate navigating the tides.  What I do advocate is acceptance of those moments when things to do not go according to our plans, when times are tough.  In these moments, we are best served remembering that nothing in this world of form will last forever.  

Embrace impermanence.  Do not fear it.  Embrace it and know that every moment is a gift that builds upon the other experiences of your life.  Alone, we may judge them as good or bad, but together…together they are your life.  What is more beautiful than that?