Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul Part 6 of 9: Time Is Not Your Enemy
January 1, 2010 by dr. lam
The word deadline has a ring of mortality. When we cross that line or we don’t, we are dead. We tend to live our lives in a constant battle with time: aging (something I know well), schedules, etc (rather appropriate topic on this New Year’s Day!). We are focused on the limitations that time imposes on us. Our bodies curiously live only in the moment, whereas our minds live by these segmented elements of time: future/present/past and days/months/years.
Many times our irregular schedules can wreak havoc on our lives and our related psyche. A psychologist featured in this book admonishes his patients who are suffering from anxiety and depression to go home and clean out their clutter, not skip breakfast at all this week, go to work at the same time and do so 15 minutes early, then come back to see him to see if their symptoms still exist.
The point is that our bodies have a cyclical regularity that can be disrupted with uncertainty. In a mouse experiment that Chopra talks about, a mouse is given a harmless, but uncomfortable shock at regular intervals. Over time, the mouse forgets about the shock and learns to live with it. Another mouse is given the same harmless shock but at undisclosed, unpredictable, and variable intervals, which ultimately leads to the mouse’s death within days. The mouse cannot handle uncertainty. Can we?
In order to diminish the sense of time and the uncertainty of our future, we should look at making whatever we can in our lives more regular, including waking up, going to work, eating, and sleep. The more regular our schedule is, the less disruptive and intrusive will we sense time to be. When we start no longer to see time as an enemy but as an externality that has no bearing on us, then we can actually live in the moment without fear but with fulfillment.
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9 Responses to “Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul Part 6 of 9: Time Is Not Your Enemy”
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I like this concept.
I was thinking though that having things too regular might make life boring, but maybe not. Just thinking here. I think it’s important to be somewhat flexible in life, so that when something interrupts a regular schedule that it doesn’t create anxiety. For me, I tend to get OCD if I try to be too regular in a habit. I used to have to have my bed folded perfectly and my exercise outfit on exactly 5 minutes after my alarm clock rang or else I didn’t feel like I started the day right…lol Maybe I’m the only one that has had that problem though…lol
I do like the concept! Especially for meals, work, sleep, etc.
Man! Tomorrow is Saturday! I have to go two whole days without blogs! Man!
good points. i think your perspective is totally valid too. i think we can make as many things in our life regular so that we can cushion the blow for other smaller to bigger transitions. sorry, no blogs for 2 days!
Well then maybe we can talk about resolutions in the interim. I have friends who say they’re not making any, but I think it’s better to make some, even if I fall short.
A person I admire greatly says we should make a resolution in three areas: health, happiness, and our character. I think that’s a great way to cover almost everything.
My DH is now all excited about trying yoga. Go figure! I told him about your success with it and he started researching, claims some well-known wrestler (yeah that’s how we roll, lol) regained his health vis a vis yoga. DH will probably be all Lulu leMON on me now. GREAT! haha
Thanks man!
yes, i shall be making resolutions, as i always do. i will be working through them every month with my accountability groups so that i don’t fall short. i like the 3 areas you outlined! good luck with yoga. i would start slowly and not force it. i was talking to guy in his 50s at the new year’s ball who hurt himself with his first ashtanga session. i would just start very slowly (no matter what age) and work up to getting limber and strong. it will happen before you notice it. just take it slowly.
Thanks.
I just misused vis a vis. I hate that! However, gives me a segue to say I appreciate the 1000x you’ve overlooked my assaults on grammar and usage. That is a sign of good upbringing.
GN
i have also made tons of mistakes. no biggie!
O.k. I have four resolutions. I’ve actually been trying to live by these since you brought them to us here.
I’ll be impeccable with my word.
I’ll won’t take anything personally.
I won’t make assumptions.
I’ll do my best.
So, those four are from one of your blogs on Ruiz. I have thought of them ever since, they’re on some frequency that hits me really well. Probably because they are simple, and not simple at all.
I’ve noticed that in “not taking it personally”, I sometimes have to put blinders on. Some may think that is bad, counter to habit of “confronting” anything and everything that may come. However, I am happier following Ruiz’ wisdom.
Nord, that is great that you brought up resolutions! I like those categories. My list is not so much a list of things to accomplish as it is a list of new ways to go about those things I want to accomplish. I want to continuously make improvements when I see the need. Dr. Lam’s self-improvement blogs help a great deal in that!! Thanks, Dr Lam!!!
Nord, you’re funny! Don’t even talk about mistakes!…lol I think I probably make 50 a day!
nice job blog buddies!