The Portal meme stems from Valve's revolutionary puzzle-platformer series where players use a handheld device to create interdimensional doorways. The phrase 'Now you're thinking with portals' originally served as an instructional cue but quickly evolved into an internet catchphrase for any situation involving clever shortcuts or confusing spatial logic. In meme culture, the template typically utilizes the distinct orange and blue portal aesthetics to show an object or person entering one state and immediately exiting in another, often highlighting how quickly time, money, or motivation can vanish. It remains one of the most enduring gaming memes due to its versatile visual storytelling and nostalgia for the Aperture Science universe.