Is Time a Valuable Commodity?
The protracted deliberation of how we derive to where we are, where we want to be, and why we won’t or can’t get there.
We aren’t aware of how precious time is until we are faced with an unexpected health problem, a sudden loss of a loved one or tragedy to contend with.
It leaves us in a state of panic. Time starts slipping away.
We are reminded of our time spent by the way we schedule our personal errands around that sports game, church, etc. or any work-related tasks.
I used to believe in spending useless chunks of time on alot of things that revolved around me, mainly my own “leisure” time.
Our time is important because time gives us that sense of urgency. We are so desperate to keep up with it!
What can we do to change the perception of what time means to each one of us?
Carlo Rovelli, is one of several loop quantum gravity physicists. His newest book entitled, “The Order of Time,” is based on Quantum and Relativity. Charlotte Higgins, chief culture writer for The Guardian, recently interviewed Carlo Rovelli about his last published book, “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.” He discusses entropy and that there is no time between our past and future. He belongs to the International Society for the Study of Time.
Watch and listen to the Penguin Books UK video as British actor Benedict Cumberbatch aka Dr. Strange, reads an excerpt from “The Order of Time.”
Eddie Harran aka Dr. Time is a Futurist. His website, Temporal Labs, researches time and our perception of it. It’s important to keep an open mind because there is so much we don’t know about yet. Investing your “time” to study chronosophy, for example.
Let me give you an example: if you asked someone 70 years ago we would be able to talk on a mobile phone they would have laughed at you. If you had asked someone 15 years ago there is a technology patent by Sony allowing you to wear contact lenses and record what you see? Yes. Unbelievable.
If we prioritize and separate the loved ones from all the “whatever else” that is blinding us from what’s real…keepin’ it real here…we could see time as our invaluable friend.
Imagine taking time off and just go. Somewhere. By yourself. Better yet, with your partner, you could embark on to adventures unknown.
I love an open fire, whether it be a bonfire on a camping trip or better yet, on the beach! Find a lounge chair or hammock, lean back, then close your eyes. What are you thinking as you feel the warmth of the fire?
It’s about soaking in that warmth as you’re lounging in a hammock or laying on a beach towel.
Do you remember when you first felt sand between your toes whilst you traipsed off in search of a sand dollar, cockel shell or chasing the water as it goes back out to the ocean? I would sit down waiting for the waves to wash over my legs and splash in my face.
How about some trails you want to hike on to see where it leads you next? There are beautiful mountains to climb, spelunking in caves, all of this to explore and more.
We should take time for meditating on the days’ events. Keep mindfulness in the forefront and let it in. You can go to yoga classes, or anything that you know will de-stress you.
The following is an excerpt of James Clears’ article entitled, “Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset.”
How Your Beliefs Can Help You or Hurt You: Mindsets
Carol Dweck is a researcher at Stanford University. Dweck is well–known for her work on “the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset.” Here’s how Dweck describes the difference between these two mindsets and how they impact your performance…
In a fixed mindset students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. In a growth mindset students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.
— Carol Dweck, Stanford University
The benefits of a mindset might seem obvious, but most of us are guilty of having a fixed mindset in certain situations. That can be dangerous because a fixed mindset can often prevent important skill development and growth, which could sabotage your health and happiness down the line.
For example, if you say, “I’m not a math person” then that belief acts as an easy excuse to avoid practicing math. The fixed mindset prevents you from failing in the short–run, but in the long–run it hinders your ability to learn, grow, and develop new skills.
Meanwhile, someone with a growth mindset would be willing to try math problems even if they failed at first. They see failure and setbacks as an indication that they should continue developing their skills rather than a signal that indicates, “This is something I’m not good at.”
As a result, people who have a growth mindset are more likely maximize their potential. They tend to learn from criticism rather than ignoring it, to overcome challenges rather than avoiding them, and to find inspiration in the success of others rather than feeling threatened.
Collaborative Fund’s recent article, “Mindsets: Optimism vs. Complacency vs. Pessimism” by Morgan Housel, provides an in-depth portrayal of showing how the Optimist gets by with daily tragedies. It’s pretty obvious that it’s not really superficial. In time, those expectations with par-average result seem to offer nothing spectacular.
The Complacent is a breed like no other. There is some sort of delusional thinking going on because it’s NOT realistic and it’s certainly idealistic. I kind of like to refer to this as “an old man’s lie.” (It makes me sing the Talking Head’s song, “Once in a Lifetime.”) He becomes a cynic.
Finally, the Pessimist is convinced nothing will change. His disappointments drag him down.
IAM Journal, a Medium publication, explains the paradox of questioning what is or might be. This is a healthy thought pattern. Categorically deny or have a Gambler’s fallacy. It’s your choice. We polarize our thought processes so therefore we look at ourselves and others through a distorted lens.
I came across a Quartz article entitled, “If The Shoe Fits-There’s only one way to truly understand another person’s mind” by Ephrat Livni. There is an ego-centric bias based on using a person’s own feelings which is subjective.
And so it goes.
Those imaginary windows of time should be only for you to decide. It’s really frustrating with how time sneaks up on you. By that time it’s basically too late.
You know when it’s time to stop whatever you’re doing and change. It only takes a fraction of a second to change time.
And so my friends we’ll say goodnight, for time has claimed it’s prize, but tonight will always last, as long as we keep alive memories of Paradise…
(The last verse of “The Best of Times” from Styx’s album, Paradise Theater)
