The Psychology of Time

This weekend was a big weekend for our family. My son is in the 8th grade and they had an 8th grade formal. One last hurrah before the rigors of high school and the pressure of performance takes over in their quests for careers and productive lives. Basically, it was simply a school dance where they dressed up but the meaning assigned to it was pretty big.

This made me think of time in general and how it's our most important commodity. It's constantly ticking down and we have no idea when the timer will be up. That alone can be anxiety producing, but it doesn't have to be. There are a possibility of three different times you can be in at any moment. There's the past, present and future. You may have heard the saying, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift that's why it's called the present." The truth is the only thing we have is right now. The more you can focus on what is happening right now and the blessings that come from it and the lessons, the less regretful and anxious you'll be. No one has a crystal ball or a rewind button. Be fully present now.

Most people spend most of their lives in the past mulling over past regrets, happinesses, wrongs, should haves, could haves, etc. The future is unknown and that brings anxiety for some for how things are going to turn out, how will you pay for something, will your kids get into college or get a job, will you still have your job, what about your health, etc. You have no control over those past experiences and you have no control over the future, but you do have control over your thoughts and subsequent actions in the present. What you choose to focus on expands and creates an emotional response or reaction. Actions are born from this emotion. The beautiful thing is you have the ability to choose what you focus on in the present. Don't focus on lack, anxiety, depression, fear. Instead CHOOSE to focus on goodness, beauty, gratitude, life.

True fulfillment in life comes from giving not getting and the most valuable thing you have to give is time. How are you choosing to use your time? Is it spent fulfilling you and those around you?