Understanding Our Illusions of Time
When we reflect on life, perhaps nothing is more elusive than time. We cannot capture it, save it, or stop it. Despite this, we treat it like a commodity that can be spent or stored. Three illusions dominate our perception: time will run out, hurrying will save time, and more time will come later.
We often look at clocks more than people. We rush to meet deadlines and wonder where we’ll “find the time.” But time is not found — it’s created.
Time is a perception, shaped by how we view the space between events. Since we create our perceptions, we also create time. Like a canvas for our life journey, time becomes the space on which we paint our experiences.
The Story of the Clock
So, why are we slaves to time? How did we come to believe in saving or running out of it? Legend tells of a gifted carpenter who crafted a beautiful box with two hands and a painted face. He invited Time to live inside, promising control over humanity. Time agreed, and the box became the first clock. Soon, people mistook the clock for time itself and began shaping their lives around it.
Today, we live by the little and big hands of this invention, unaware that we serve a machine, not a truth. We created a tool and became its servant.
What Is Real Time?
Real time isn’t about seconds or minutes. It’s our perception of inner space between events. The more we crave stimulation from the outside world — whether from people, devices, or entertainment — the more we reduce that space.
We seek constant activity. Repeating stimulation builds a tolerance, and eventually, we need more to feel the same satisfaction. This addiction to speed drives us to pack our lives with more events, shrinking our inner time.
Our relationship with technology reveals this clearly. A frozen screen triggers frustration. Why? Because it interrupts our stimulation. Devices are now tools we depend on to fill our inner space.
The Grammar of Life
Like punctuation brings clarity to sentences, events give rhythm to life. But meaning doesn’t come from the events — it comes from the space between them. In that space, we reflect, understand, and assign meaning.
When we overload our lives with events, we reduce the space where we create depth and meaning. We skim through life, losing fulfillment. Without space, we can’t reflect deeply, and our decisions become less intentional.
The Four Types of Time
Nature’s Time: The steady, cyclic rhythm of the seasons.
Clock Time: Our human invention to measure and schedule.
Psychological Time: Our personal experience of time’s speed.
Spiritual Time: A timeless state beyond inner or outer events.
Nature’s time grounds us. Clock time manages our logistics. Psychological time shifts based on our mindset. Spiritual time is the experience of our eternal nature.
The Myth of Time Starvation
In the modern world, especially in developed countries, many feel “time-starved.” Phrases like “I don’t have enough time” reveal our belief in time shortage. But time isn’t scarce — it’s how we perceive and manage our attention.
We tie our worth to how fast we deliver, becoming adrenaline-driven. That rush becomes a drug. We might say we thrive under pressure, but we often sacrifice inner peace for temporary productivity.
Managing Inner Space
Time management is self-management. Most so-called “time management” is about being efficient with events, not truly managing time.
To stretch time, think less. More thoughts mean faster inner events, which shrink your sense of time. Meditators know this: slowing thoughts expands inner space.
Practices like contemplation and meditation help us enter this space, where we feel joy, contentment, and connection. That’s where we discover meaning.
Spiritual Time: Beyond the Clock
Imagine going beyond all outer and inner events — even the ticking clock. In this space, no events occur. No time passes. You experience timelessness.
But as soon as you think about it, time returns.
This is spiritual time — pure awareness, not bound by events or thoughts. Some call it “eternal presence.” Others call it peace.
Question: Why do so many people struggle to understand and manage time?
Reflection: Are you using the time of your life, or letting someone else use it? Who? Why?
Action: Each day for the next month, spend 10 minutes staring out the window — no phone, no tasks — and observe your own spaciousness.
