Time and Humans
The concept of time and its importance to individuality is less talked about.
Having a uniquely subjective sense of time can help us feel like a one-of-a-kind individual by honoring our internal clock and our body’s unique biorhythms, thereby supporting the feeling of being a distinct self among the masses.
Evolution of the Personal Time
Subjective & Objective time: does it signify individuality?
It is subjective time that may assist us in disengaging from the linear perspective of hours and years to follow the natural world’s rhythms of seasons and cycles. For example, as we celebrate each birthday, we move closer to the end of our lives.
Our current time perception is a remnant of past time perception development.
The fantasy of omnipotence
We are all born helpless, completely dependent on others for nurturance and survival, and we all must face the ultimate annihilation of the self at the end of life. As very young children, we all hold the fantasy of omnipotence (note that it is a fantasy). Thankfully, these fantasies of omnipotence grow out of feelings of helplessness.*
Everyone deals with this aspect in later life stages as it becomes more and more evident that we have limited control over life.
If life is kind to us, we gently acknowledge and accept our limitations, understanding that our human instinct does not diminish our value or make us less endearing.
Time reminds us, like it or not, everyone is subject to the rules of time, loss and limitations, transience, and mortality.
Time is Personal
The subjective sense of time develops and changes as we go through life. To understand our relationship with time, we must consider our early life experiences and how they shaped our dynamics with time.
Our relationship to time in the present is the vestigial of time perception developed at an earlier stage of life.
Infant Time: Infants need immediate feeding when they feel hungry.
In adulthood, the vestigial form could be seen as fear, and anxiety could feel unbearable. To put it in perspective, procrastination or disturbances in time relation to many adults be w way to avoid emotional pain and seek control in situations. In these moments, we are like hungry babies seeking immediate satisfaction.
Toddler Time: Parents telling toddlers about future treats based on their schedules may cause conflicts. Toddlers have their sense of time and may feel controlled by the clock. How parents communicate about time impacts the child’s future views on time and procrastination.
Child Time: As children grow, they learn to tell time and face more expectations from the world around them. Time can be a burden or freedom, depending on their ability to control it.
Teen Time: Puberty marks a significant change in perception of time as physical changes occur, signifying the end of childhood. The present becomes the focus, with choices about schooling, work, and relationships looming.
Adult Time: As we age, we realize time is endearing. Disturbed relationships with time can have serious consequences, such as missed deadlines and strained relationships.
Midlife Time: Entering midlife can be challenging as people confront their limitations and mortality. Physical changes, retirement security, and health insurance become important considerations. However, it is essential to accept the finiteness of time and recognize that some goals may not be achievable.
Senior time: As we age, we face loss and physical decline. Time becomes more subjective, and the future seems less promising. Accepting death can be challenging for those who resist it, but making peace with unfinished business is crucial.
Out-Of-Sync Time
When your time stage is not in sync with your life stage, you can face relationship issues with time.
Someone may have a different perception of time that does not align with their current age. Let's say, some adults still view time as they did when they were teenagers, feeling invincible and not bothered by the passing of time. This can cause issues for them as adults because their teenage time perspective does not match the responsibilities of the adult world. For instance, as a parent, procrastination can impact the entire family, even future generations.
Those struggling with the transition to adulthood from teen time may deny the reality that some paths will never be taken, leading to procrastination and a reluctance to seek adult responsibilities. This denial of the passage of time can hinder progress toward finishing school, getting a job, and establishing a self-reliant life toward adulthood.
Timelessness
Some people ignore the possible consequences of relationship dynamics with time. So it is mostly when procrastination catches up with reality and confronts us.
Experiencing a sense of timelessness can have both positive and negative effects. Many of our most enjoyable and creative moments exist outside of time. Yet, living in a state of timelessness can have serious consequences; it can be disorienting and prevent personal growth.
It is also easy to lose track of time and miss meaningful opportunities, while it may feel comforting.
Avoiding the inevitabilities of time, such as aging and mortality, only delays reality.
We must make the most of our time and embrace the journey, knowing that our past experiences are part of our integrated selves.
Old Me versus (or meets) New Me
Sometimes, connecting the past, present, and future in our lives is complex, making it feel like time is standing still.
We may want to forget our past struggles and hope that a “New Me” will easily handle the current situation. However, this perspective can be tricky.
We maintain a sense of continuity by acknowledging the link between our past experiences and present selves.
To make positive changes in our lives, we must first accept our past experiences and acknowledge that the “Same Old Me” can make changes.
It may seem counterintuitive, but starting from where we are can lead to becoming a “New Me.”
Our subjective sense of time seems so integral to who we are that it may be difficult to accept that time management is a personal perspective rooted in our cultural or familial environment, biological inheritance, and individual psychological experience.
Regardless of how private it is, our subjective sense of time may be confusing or aggravating to others with a unique, possibly very different, sense of time.
By following our biorhythms and observing how aligned our internal body clocks are to the natural rhythms, we can better understand our subjective sense of time.
Remember, clock time does not have to be anyone’s enemy or superior. Time is neither excellent nor bad, fast nor slow, friend nor foe; it just is.
*Fantasies of omnipotence refer to a psychological phenomenon where individuals imagine themselves possessing unlimited power and ability. This concept is often discussed in the context of child development and psychoanalytic theory. In early childhood, these fantasies are a normal part of development, reflecting a child’s exploration of their abilities and role in the world. Children often imagine themselves as superheroes or characters with extraordinary powers, which is a manifestation of these fantasies. In adults, however, prolonged or intense fantasies of omnipotence can indicate various psychological conditions or responses to feelings of powerlessness or inadequacy. In a therapeutic context, understanding and addressing these fantasies can be important, especially if they interfere with a person’s ability to form realistic self-perceptions or maintain healthy relationships.
