Life is an impermanent process. Holding onto things that will eventually pass will only cause suffering in the long run, because everything will eventually end. There’s nothing I know of that can withstand the test of time. Depending on how you look at it, this view can drum up great stress, or instill great freedom.
Because here’s the thing.
Every experience that you ever have will come to an end.
Every person you have ever known will die.
Every thing you have ever laid your eyes on will perish.
To some people, this is terrifying. After all, we want to be in control. It’s only human and gives us a sense of stability. If every condition eventually transitions, we’re forced to cease control of life, knowing that all things have an expiration date.
I used to be this way too, seeing death as a big no-no. The best-kept secret nobody wants to know.
Over the years… I would say mostly attributed to my nomadic lifestyle and perhaps my spiritual pursuits, my perception of the ever-changing nature of life has too, changed dramatically.
To me personally, there’s nothing more freeing than knowing all things will end. The law of impermanence isn’t something that makes me feel dread, but rather relief.
Here I’m going to tell you exactly what the law of impermanence is from my understanding, how embodying it can drastically increase the quality of your life, and some simple steps you can take to set yourself on the right track.
What is the law of impermanence?
You can look at the law of impermanence as a philosophy, or perhaps a universal truth that is a core theme in various spiritual bodies around the world. It refers to the ever-changing nature of all things which encourages a deeper, existential pursuit rather than getting attached to any given ‘thing’.
Impermanence isn’t some far-off philosophical concept. It’s happening all around us, all the time.
Just think about it:
- People come and go. Friendships fade, relationships change, and loved ones pass on. The people in our lives will perish in time.
- Feelings shift. Remember that heartbreak that felt unbearable? One day, it’s just a distant memory. The excitement of something new? It fades too. Emotions, no matter how strong, never stay the same.
- Circumstances change. Maybe you’re struggling financially now, but that doesn’t mean you always will. Maybe life feels stable, but that can shift in an instant. Nothing stays locked in place, situations and circumstances will inevitably change with time.
- Physical things decay. Clothes wear out, technology gets outdated, and our bodies age. Our planet too ages and changes with time. Everything we own, see, and perceive will change form over time.
- The seasons cycle. Summer turns to fall, fall turns to winter, and before you know it, the cycle repeats. Even nature reminds us that everything is in motion.
- The universe changes. Expanding, contracting… who knows. But changing? Definitely. All life will be recycled into the universe. All stars will eventually burn out. The universe itself may expire in time, so nothing, regardless of how big or small can escape an ending, nor can time itself.
- Spirituality. Even the spiritual realms are in a constant state of flux. Your soul is constantly growing, new things are constantly happening, experiences are being had, and god too may be changing.
The stark truth…
Everything ends.
When you truly acknowledge that every experience will eventually come to an end, you can begin developing a different view of life; one where you don’t need to hold on by your fingernails.
As holding on can cause a lot of pain, the teachings of impermanence are about letting things go in their own time without needlessly holding on or causing a forcing current within your life.
Life is a short window. A lot of pain is created by holding onto things that are inevitably shifting out of your life.
Simply accepting that all things perish takes a huge burden off you and allows you to see life in a bigger picture way: One where you can enjoy the ride because let’s face it – You don’t have much to lose.
So you have two options:
- Hold on to the things you have for dear life until the suffering becomes too much to bear.
- Surrender to the unknown and allow your experience of life to naturally transition without fighting it.
Embodying the law of impermanence is so much more than simply acknowledging, but to:
- Take a leap of faith when you need to, and actively step forward out of your comfort zone.
- Embrace new territory of your life experience, regardless if it’s new or daunting.
- Relieve control and have faith that life will take you where it must.
The spiritual significance of impermanence
The law of impermanence is a big part of Eastern philosophies, and this is likely where you’ve heard it from. Exemplified by Tibetan monks creating beautiful elaborate sand mandalas only to sweep them away, or Indian Sadhus who renounce worldly possessions and dedicate their lives to spiritual practice, impermanence is a core theme in their lives.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to live in a cave or walk barefoot across the Himalayas to get the gist. As long as you encourage yourself to see life change as a positive thing for your spiritual growth, you too can find peace in the whirlwind we call life.
In Buddhism, impermanence is called Anicca. It’s one of the Three Marks of Existence, alongside suffering (Dukkha) and non-self (Anatta).
The Buddha taught us that everything is in a constant state of change, perhaps even god itself. Holding onto things as if they’re permanent is what creates suffering because if you’re overly attached to something, it’s just going to create more shock when inevitably letting go of it.
Imagine holding onto a moving train with the hopes of preventing it from leaving. As you can see, you’re not doing yourself any favors…
The more we resist change or refuse to adapt, the more we struggle.
Taoism takes a similar stance, emphasizing the natural flow of life (wu wei). The Tao Te Ching teaches us that trying to grasp onto things is like trying to hold onto water. It slips through your fingers no matter how tightly you squeeze. Instead, we’re encouraged to move with the currents of life rather than fight against them, finding stillness in the fact that nothing is fixed, but everflowing.
There’s a lot that these philosophies can teach us because they aren’t random, abstract ideas. It’s true. Nobody will refute that everything changes with time, and this is why the doctrine of impermanence is central to Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and even Sufism… pointing to a truth:
We can’t take our bodies with us, and accepting the impermanence of all things brings us closer to truth.
Is impermanence a good thing?
In my view, the law of impermanence is absolutely a good thing! Living forever is overrated, and when we begin to see just how vast consciousness is, knowing that this reality ends doesn’t just become tolerable, but exciting!
Viewing life through a lens of impermanence helps us cultivate acceptance.
Impermanence, if seen through the right frame, is a very liberating truth. Thinking about everything passing might cause some funky existential feelings. But existence being a temporary phenomenon makes you realize that we shouldn’t take life too seriously.
Rather, we should enjoy each moment we have, and learn to savor them all a little more.
Thinking about life through a frame of impermanence creates space for a beautiful way of life where each moment, experience, and thing are just tiny glimpses of an endless current. This doesn’t discern good or bad, right or wrong, success or failure. Through this lens, everything is precious because everything is limited.
Impermanence provides true equality to life. This means that all suffering will end. All horror that is experienced is ultimately short-lived. The impermanency of life means there’s an ultimate egalitarianism because all life will begin and end humbly, and death doesn’t care if you achieved all your worldly goals, or if you spent your entire life struggling.
Viewing life through a frame of impermanence helps because it:
- Alleviates the fear of death
- Alleviates stress, worry, and suffering
- Cultivates inner peace
- Allows you to embrace change and let go
- Helps you stop resisting life, and flow with it
- Helps you stop being so attached to material things, and instead focus on deeper fulfillment
- Encourages an existential pursuit of growth and learning
When we embrace impermanence, life gets lighter.
We stop fearing change and start flowing with it. It helps us let go of unnecessary attachments, appreciate the present moment, and find peace in knowing that nothing lasts, neither the bad times nor the good.
How the law of impermanence fits into every day life
This philosophy wouldn’t mean a whole lot unless we incorporate these teachings into our lives and take something tangible away from them.
You need to learn to let go of situations when they’re inevitably changing because this is what so many of us struggle with. If you have control over a situation, sure, do what you can, but realize when there’s nothing that can be done, besides step forward.
This is what it’s all about.
If you have parted ways with someone, instead of desperately holding on, realize it’s time to move forward with your life. Of course, allow yourself to go through the motions, but allow yourself to organically move on when it’s time.
Society is constantly changing. Holding onto your old ways might work for a while, but eventually, those old ways will become redundant. You need to change and adapt if you want to enjoy your time on this planet instead of making it such a drag.
You need to let go of former identities, situations, people in your life, work, opportunities, and the list goes on. Therefore, stay on top of the wave by allowing your life situation to continuously evolve.
Instead of viewing death as an unquestionable horror, I challenge you to look at it in a way that brings you a sigh of relief.
Life is the adventure from point A to point B. Sooner or later we all cross that line and leave this world, so how can you see it in a way where it makes you feel… excited?
Even though I love my life and milk every drop of experience out of it, death gives me a sense of peace. I know that if my life turns out to be a massive failure, I’ll be happy to pass on to the next experience. If I’m a big success, I’ll leave with a smile on my face knowing I did a good job, but it doesn’t matter either way.
What matters is that I see death as the turning of a chapter.
By no means do I believe it’s the end of experience, not at all. Death is moving onto a beautiful mystery, and I’m excited to see where that mystery leads after this experience finishes.
Can you see it in the same way?
Make the most of the time you have
If you ask me, what makes the law of impermanence so beautiful is that it points to a stark truth: Now is the only time that matters.
And I know, I certainly wouldn’t be the first to parrot the great teachers of the past who tell us that life should be lived in the now, otherwise it’s so often missed. But regardless, it’s a truth that impermanence always leads us back to.
That’s because when you realize just how fleeting life is, and how many chapters came and went before you could barely acknowledge them, you begin to savor each experience a little more.
This teaches us a few things:
- Each life situation is unique, temporary, and fleeting. If you’re not present with each experience, you might regret it later.
- Life is best lived in the now. It’s a much fuller experience when we are present with the experiences we have.
- Change is a never-ending river, and we ought to embrace each chapter after the next because there’s no going back.
In my life at least, recognizing impermanence is a game-changer. There have been many doctrines and teachings that have helped me become more at peace, and more accepting of my life circumstances, but impermanence is the cherry on top.
Like all things, this situation too is temporary, so be with it while it lasts, and let it evolve into something new when it does. Enjoy the ride knowing that you signed up for this thing, and there’s no going back!
