Time is created in our mind. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to.’ – Lao Tzu
Time is precious, Time flies, Running out of time, Perfect Timing, What time is it? These are just a few ways we express “time” and the importance it plays in every part of our life…. but if there is only “now” and we can only be in one place at a time, (unless we are time travellers!) then our thoughts around time are just an illusion and that our stress around time, is self-created.
When my mind is focused on tomorrow, yesterday, or in the future or past, I am not focusing on the “present” and in fact, I lose productivity when my focus is away from “now.”
One way I help pull myself back on a busy day, is to stop myself regularly, take a deep breath in and ask myself “Where are you now?” Often the answer is that I am focusing on something else, rather than on my present task.
Of course I plan my week, make appointments and have deadlines to complete, but a practice each day to pull my focus back to the present, through disciplines like meditation, yoga and stillness, help lessen any stress or fear around the illusion of time.
Being present is a practice, the more we practice, the more time we have!
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
Yes!
Indeed Mr K~
Being present is a practice….absolutely…and we get better and better the more we practice. What a great reminder this is.
I certainly have improved with practice. Thankyou so much.
I agree that time “gets away from us” often because we misplace it. There are so many events that feed off time, we sacrifice present time assets to pay off time “debt” of the past as well as the future. To achieve a sense of balance and well being we need to create a time hierarchy that satisfies the past, present and future. Time used for the past must not be spent reliving mistakes, but rather planning new approaches to improve on the present. Time used in the present must be cherished because it is the only time guaranteed to us. Time for the future can be used to help guide us toward discovering our final destination by unveiling the purpose and meaning of our existence. Thinking of time in these terms creates greater clarity and usage of this limited commodity.
Our blogging community shares our present time with each other showing the value and respect we feel for one another. It’s a time I have come to appreciate and embrace.
Well said and I agree, our blogging community is very present. Thanks Jonathan.
So great reminder 😀
Thanks Irene. 🙂
Exactly, Karen. Revel in your now! 🙂
I am! Thankyou Eric. 🙏🏻
‘Where are you now?’ –love this, Karen, and will incorporate it into my lexicon. Seems like we spend most of our lives wishing we were at a different point in time. As kids, we can’t wait to get older so that we can do ‘X,’ and as adults we wish we were younger so we could reclaim the joy of youth and those halcyon years of ‘y.’ And in the midst of all that, the now is dismissed. Not good. Thanks for the reality check. 😊
It’s very true Lori. I went to a talk last night on death by a Buddhist Nun. She said if we all faced the fact that we will die at some point, we would become much better at practising being present and appreciating each and everyday as a gift. Wasting our energy on other thoughts or our fears doesn’t seem so important when we truly face our reality. Thankyou for your comment 💜
I have been playing with time quite a bit lately. Focusing on being as mindful and joyful as I can. The deeper into that practice I go the more time bends, elongates, changes. It is often said time is a tool for us to use, not the other way around. I am becoming more mindful that time is a tool I wield rather than letting it wield me.
Exactly Noelle. This is what we can do with our time, it is a gift to practice this and see the results. Lovely to hear from you 💚💚
Yes, thank you for the “timely” reminder as even having a nice tool box of applications to keep myself present, I find that I can allow my mind to take over and lead me into the past and/or future, therefore missing out on this beautiful moment. Happy Now!
My mind can take over too! My practice is my wonderful tool. Happy Now too my friend 🌅
Thanks for the reminder, Karen. Good question to ask many times a day.” Where are you now?” A little off topic, a good example of time weirdness – underwater, time gets longer. I only have 20 seconds underwater, and in that time a lot can happen, especially relating to underwater creatures. Just an amusing aside. 🙂
It’s true under water is like another world of silence! A place to re-focus our thoughts. Thankyou Mary, have a lovely day 🌸🌺
How very true…thanks for the gentle reminder. ♥
Thankyou Yvonne. It really helps me. Hope you are going well 💚
Thankfully, my days are no longer so busy now that I am retired. Still, I manage to run out of time now and again!
Yes even in retirement we can forget to be present! Thankyou Emilie have a great day 💚
This is such a good reminder for me today in particular. “Everyone has the same 24 hours” my partner Adam likes to say. Thank you for this.
Your partner is right! What we do with that 24hrs is up to us. Thankyou Jean ❤️
The present truly is a gift. Anyplace the mind travels besides that only messes with our time perceptions. Great post!
Thankyou! It is a gift indeed. ❤️
Great post, Karen! It is funny how the more present we are, the more time there seems to be. It makes sense! I ask myself (and my spouse! 😉 ) that same question quite often, “Where ARE you right now?” 😀
So glad to hear someone else does this! Enjoy creating time Eliza 🌺
Thank you!
Wonderful post! And that is a great daily practice, Karen! When we “don’t have time” for something, that something is not a priority for us. I have to say that mediation has always helped me through the busiest and most stressful phases of my career and life in general.
Meditation always brings our focus back to the present. It does help us through every part of our life and you are a wonderful example of that Helen. 😇
Very good post and valuable suggestions, Karen.
Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for today’s troubles are enough.
When we look to the past we should not fret it, but gain understanding of our present. And our present is our opportunity to correct the errors of the past so that our future present will that which we desire.
-Alan
Very true. When we are present, we are focused on what is important. Thankyou Alan. 🙏🏻
I have time! People I work with need to read this. Ahihihi 🙂
Seriously though, some people would say “I have a lot of things to do.”, and they get overwhelmed or just plain lazy. And then they end up not doing something and only do things when close to deadline.
People tend to think they don’t have enough time to do things, but they really do. Sometimes, it really is in people’s head. I have a lot of things to do, but I try to do as much done as possible. When work piles up even more, I start time management and prioritizing. I even have time to help others. After work, I have time for college, time for travel, and even do volunteer activities!
People have time, they just use “the lack of it” as an excuse to others and especially to fool their own self. Just my 2 cents.
You make some good points Rommel. It’s true, time is self created and so if we think we do not have time, then create the day differently and fill it with activities that have meaning and purpose. Your time is very well used!! 💛
Excellent post. I think the best advice (to myself) when I am feeling overwhelmed with too much to do is to pull myself back to the present and say ‘one thing at a time’. Sometimes, I have gone one step further by stopping and doing nothing except simply looking outside at the sunshine or rain.
It is amazing how those moments of sunshine or rain are now the ones embedded in my memory.
I agree Elizabeth, being in beautiful moments like the rain or sunshine is definitely what connects us again! 🌅
Glad you provided an easy link to your great blog. Missed being here.
Love your mindful, thought provoking posts. Eddie
Thankyou so much Eddie. I appreciate you being here 🙏🏻
Likewise
Just what I needed to be reminded of…thank you.
Thanks Vicki! A good reminder for me too ❤️❤️
Loving your posts, Karen.
Life is short and we must learn to appreciate everything in it. Even the bad experiences have something good in it, at least is a learning lesson. We can plan our week or our next day but always being aware that everything can change in one second.
Have a wonderful day.
So true Thankyou for your comment and for being here.
Karen some days I get right, some days I fall in a heap.
Always a practice for us all 🙏🏻