From Scarcity To Abundance: Transforming Our Perception Of Time

Our modern notion of time is a relatively recent construct. While time itself is eternal, the way we experience and relate to time is colored by culture and history. In this newsletter, we will explore the contrast between standardized clock time and subjective psychological time.

The Industrial Revolution brought an emphasis on clock watching, scheduling, and time maximization that still shapes society. Yet today, many are questioning these inherited notions and moving toward a more organic experience of time's flow. Practices like mindfulness help anchor us in the present moment rather than constantly dividing time into past, present and future.

As we reevaluate cultural norms around time use, the aim is balance. Clock time still serves an important coordinating function. But making space for activities like contemplation that connect us to time’s subjective depths allows for a more holistic alignment with our natural rhythms.

Time is a construct; our experience of it can change based on perspective. In the following sections, we will dive deeper into the nuances between clock time and psychological time. We will also trace how modern time paradigms arose historically. It is my hope this newsletter provides insights into moving toward a more conscious and empowered relationship with time.

Clock Time

Clock time refers to the standardized system of measuring time using clocks, calendars, and timestamps. It is the objective tracking of time based on seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc. This mechanical timekeeping allows society to synchronize schedules and activities. Clock time is concrete and measurable, divided into fixed segments.

In contrast to psychological time, clock time does not fluctuate based on perception or experience. The passage of clock time remains fixed, independent of one's mental state or level of presence. While psychological time may speed up or slow down based on emotions and attention, clock time steadily marches forward at a constant pace.

Psychological Time

Psychological time is the subjective experience of time's passage, dictated by one's state of mind rather than the fixed markings of clock time. According to Eckhart Tolle, when we are fully present and aligned with "the power of now", we experience the truth that only the present moment is real. The past exists only as thoughts in the mind, while the future is mental projections and anxiety. Neither have a concrete reality.

In psychological time, our experience of time flowing depends on our level of conscious presence. When absorbed in the present, time seems to slow down or stand still. We are no longer concerned with past regrets or future worries, which Tolle equates with the ego. There is only the fullness of now. On the other hand, when our minds are preoccupied and distracted, time seems to speed by. Minutes turn into hours without awareness.

Tolle teaches that aligning with psychological time by anchoring in the present is the secret to inner peace and joy. When we disregard the ego's fixation on past and future, we can access the lifeforce that exists only in the now. Our perception of time transforms from a source of stress to a wellspring of creativity, intuition, and fulfillment.

By living in psychological rather than clock time, we move beyond the illusion that time is scarce and must be anxiously managed. Instead, we realize the eternal nature of each moment when experienced with full presence.

History of Time

The measurement of time in modern Western society stems from the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. This calendar replaced the Julian calendar, which had been in use since Roman times. The Gregorian calendar adjusted the length of the year to more closely match the tropical year based on Earth's rotation around the sun. It established the familiar system of 365 days divided into 12 months, with a leap year added every 4 years to account for the extra quarter day. Originally intended to set dates for Christian holidays, the Gregorian calendar became widely adopted for civil purposes in the Western world. Its mechanical, linear tracking of days, months, and years became the predominant way to quantify and organize time. This standardized calendar and clock time enabled the scheduling and coordination necessary for industrialization and global trade. However, it also led to a collective consciousness of time as a commodity to be budgeted accounted for, and constantly watched. Our modern notions of punctuality, deadlines, rushing, and wasting time stem from this history of measuring time numerically according to the Gregorian system.

The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries further ingrained clock time into society. The scheduling demands of factories and railroads required precise timekeeping to synchronize operations. Standardized time zones were established, with people setting their watches to synchronized railroad time. The workday was divided into set units of time, as a way to manage and control labor. This model of industrial time discipline extended into other areas of life as well.

The concept of "three square meals a day" arose in conjunction with factory shifts, school schedules, and timed office work. Rather than eating according to natural hunger cues, people conformed to eating at prescribed breakfast, lunch, and dinner times. Even today, we still structure meals around clock time rather than biological rhythms. The legacy of industrialization was an emphasis on clock watching, time maximization, and rigid scheduling that still shapes the way we live. Time became less an organic flow and more a concrete resource to be managed, portioned out, and monitored for maximum efficiency.

New Paradigm of Time

As society evolves, many are beginning to question inherited assumptions about time rooted in the industrial era. A new paradigm is emerging that relates to time in a more organic, psychological way.

This new paradigm recognizes that clock time is a human construct created for practical purposes. While useful for coordination, clock time alone fails to capture the multidimensional nature of time perception. The nuevo perspective considers how emotions, cognition, and levels of presence alter our experience of time passing. It also acknowledges the role of cultural conditioning in how we value different modes of time use, like contemplation versus economic production.

From this standpoint, rigid adherence to schedules and clock-watching limits our full human potential. Many are now exploring time as a more subjective flow to be experienced, not just a mathematical grid to be measured. Practices like mindfulness meditation develop the ability to anchor awareness in the present moment rather than constantly projecting into past and future.

As part of this shift, people are re-evaluating cultural norms about time use. The 9-5 workday centered around industries and finances is giving way to more time freedom and flexibility. Rigid mealtimes are being replaced with routines guided by natural hunger signals. Journaling, art-making, and being in nature are forms of time well spent even if they don’t tangibly “produce” something.

Ultimately, this new time paradigm recognizes that we have a choice in how we experience time. Seeking a balance between clock time and psychological time allows us to live more consciously, creatively, and in alignment with our natural rhythms.

Organic Nature of Shifting Time Paradigms and the Power of Presence

This transformation in relating to time often unfolds gradually as an intuitive process unique to each person. My own journey has involved moving from rigid clock-watching to a more flowing trust in each moment. After years of being caught in the traps of always being rushed and never having enough time, I learned to stop fighting time and instead come back to my breath. When centered in the present, solutions seemed to magically arise, and problems lost their grip. While it took dedication to break ingrained habits, I discovered an inner heaven on earth available in each minute when experienced fully.

The key is questioning inherited beliefs about time scarcity and tuning inward to your unique rhythms. By believing in abundance and listening to your heart, you allow life’s organic wisdom to guide your use of time. You realize that every moment offers a chance to savor life when you disengage from your ego and embrace now. Time becomes not something to desperately chase or flee from but rather an eternal wellspring of peace and creativity available right where you are. Each breath, when taken with presence, connects you to this power of now.

HeartMath and the Scientific Research on Brain-Heart Coherence

Emerging research from the HeartMath Institute provides fascinating insights into our experience of time. HeartMath studies have shown that when our heart and brain waves are synchronized, known as brain-heart coherence, we enter an optimal state of functioning. Time seems to slow down, and our perception expands. We gain access to increased intuition, creativity, and clarity. Studies show heart coherence can be achieved through practices like mindfulness meditation, focused breathing, and heart-centered visualization. This establishes alignment between our emotional, mental, and physical levels. Remarkably, in this coherent state, the concept of time transforms and can dissolve altogether. Our normal divisions of past, present, and future give way to an eternal now. HeartMath's research confirms the role our inner state plays in shaping reality, including our subjective experience of time's passage. By cultivating coherence, we can move beyond the limits of chronological time into a more transcendent relationship with the timeless present moment.

Conclusion

As we have explored, our modern conceptualization of time is far from absolute. While clock time serves an organizing function, we also have the power to cultivate a more transcendent relationship with time. Through practices like mindfulness, heart coherence, and sinking into the present, we can tap into the timeless flow at the core of our being. When we align with psychological time and release rigid attachments to chronology, our experience of life becomes more expansive. Each moment takes on a new richness and meaning when we inhabit it fully.

I invite you to reflect on your own relationship with time after reading this newsletter. Consider where you may be stuck in limited assumptions and ready to expand. How might you integrate more activities or mindsets that connect you to the aliveness of now? What would it mean to release the burdens of hurry and scarcity and relate to time in more conscious, empowered ways? Feel free to email me any reflections or insights this brings up for you. I'm happy to be a sounding board as you explore cultivating a more balanced dance between clock time and psychological time.