"Impermanence is an idea which Tibetans use as an effective tool to find a balance between the highs and lows we experience in life. While we know that the idea of impermanence has more subtle explanations in Buddhism, it is generally understood in a simple, natural way as meaning that all things are constantly subject to change; the physical world is disintegrating moment by moment, and our mental state is in constant flux.

"By accepting the fact that nothing we feel and see remains constant, we remind ourselves of the futility of clinging to strong emotions towards that which we possess physically, such as treasured objects, or even to our feelings of love, anger, hurt, and other conflicted emotions towards friend, family, or foe.

"Whenever there are disappointments — an unfulfilled wish, a broken promise, an expectation gone wrong — impermanence reminds us that while they cannot be undone, they are not permanent, and that their intensity diminishes with the passage of time.

"Just as the lesson of impermanence helps us to deal with our disappointments, it also helps us to temper the highs of successes we achieve or the euphoria of dreams fulfilled. Impermanence reminds us that they too do not last indefinitely, and that we should not be carried away by our great joys because if we are, there will be no cushion to land on when we come down.

"Simply taught, impermanence reminds us that everything we experience is subject to change, both positive and negative, and that this realization can temper our emotions and help us find greater stability and peace within ourselves."