Time Sickness

"What time is it?", "Where did the time go?", "I wish I could turn back time", "I don't have enough time", "What a waste of time", "There's not enough hours in the day", "It's a race against the clock", "What was your time?", "This is taking too much time".

How do you relate to time?  Does time move you closer to your deepest self or does it disconnect you into anxiety or regret?  As Dr. Christiane Northrup describes in her mind-body medicine lectures and books, Western culture has an unbalanced relationship with time which adversely affects our mental and physical health.  Dr. Deepak Chopra calls the consequences of this unbalanced relationship "a time sickness epidemic."

Here's what Eckhart Tolle says about time sickness:

"All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present.  Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry - all forms of fear - are caused by too much future, and not enough presence.  Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence."  - Eckhart Tolle

Wisdom traditions tell us that the starting point in changing our relationship with time is to change the way we pay attention:

"Using your time well comes down to how well you are in the present moment.  When we feel content & centred inside, everything we do is more effective, efficient and satisfying." - Deepak Chopra

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have.  Make the now the primary focus of your life." - Eckhart Tolle

"Since death is certain, and the hour is uncertain, what matters right now?" - Martha Beck, PhD.

In class, we will continue to practice mindfulness & meditation as gateways into present moment awareness and an elevated relationship with time.