THE TEMPORARY THEORY
Life is temporary.
Does that diminish its meaning?
Or is that what creates it?
Some of the moments that shape us most are the ones that have already passed.
Everything changes.
Our circumstances, our relationships, our emotions and the way we see ourselves.
We are part of a world that is constantly changing. Our lives are shaped by what came before us, and through our experiences, relationships and choices, we influence what comes next.
The Temporary Theory explores this connection between impermanence, meaning and change. It invites us to recognise that while we cannot control everything that happens, we can become more aware of how we respond and what we carry forward.
Life is temporary.
That's why every moment matters.
The Ripple
What happens to us can shape our life and the lives of those around us in ways we may never have considered.
What we experience shapes us. What we choose shapes what we pass on.
The Ripple Effect
Every experience leaves something behind. A memory, a belief, a new understanding or a pattern of behaviour that influences how we live and relate to others.
Some of these patterns began long before us. We inherit ways of thinking, responding and behaving, often without recognising where they came from.
But inheritance doesn't have to mean repetition.
Awareness gives us an opportunity to question what we've inherited, recognise what no longer serves us and consider what we want to carry forward.
The Ripple illustrates how our experiences, understanding and choices can influence not only our own lives, but the lives of others.
We cannot always choose what happens to us.
But where we have choice, we can influence what happens next.
The Six Themes
The Temporary Theory is explored through six themes drawn from the experiences and questions at the heart of It's Temporary.
Together, they consider what it means to live with change, navigate uncertainty, experience difficult emotions, find connection and recognise meaning in moments that do not last.
Each offers a different perspective on being human, and an invitation to reflect on our own experiences.
Something doesn't have to last forever to matter.
1. Temporary Still Matters
A moment, relationship or experience doesn't have to last forever to leave something meaningful behind.
2. Presence Over Perfection
Life happens while we're living it, not only when everything goes according to plan.
3. Emotion Has Intelligence
Our emotions can offer insight into what matters to us, even when they're uncomfortable.
4. You Are Not Alone
Our experiences may be different, but the need for connection is something we share.
5. Healing Is Not Linear
Progress can include setbacks, uncertainty and days when moving forward feels difficult.
6. Impermanence as Hope
Just as the moments we treasure cannot last forever, neither must the circumstances we struggle through.
From Understanding to Action
The Temporary Theory offers a way to think about change.
STOP and SWAAT provide practical ways to explore it in our everyday lives.
STOP helps us create space between what happens and how we respond.
SWAAT helps us understand where we are in a particular situation, recognise our current patterns and consider what might help us move forward.
STOP
A moment to pause.
A simple practice to help you slow down, observe what's happening and choose what matters next.
SWAAT
Understand where you are right now.
Explore how you're experiencing a particular situation, recognise the patterns influencing your response and discover perspectives that may help you move forward.