The mind’s preference to fix things into a permanent form  even applies to how we see  our “flaws”.  We easily see ourselves as having enduring negative aspects to our personality – “I am very bad at ….” rather than recognizing the changing nature of our weaknesses.   That things are always changing is one of the fundamental truths which we try to understand at a deep personal level. The line from the Dhammapada – Anyone who understands impermanence ceases to be contentious – reminds us of a fundamental way to stop fighting with reality and with ourselves. We are continually changing. Our life path is continually changing. Sometimes agonizing about it only makes things worse.

The expounding, practising and realizing of impermanence

by the impermanent

themselves all must be impermanent

Dogen