Summary

The article discusses the subjective perception of time, suggesting that experiencing awe can expand our sense of available time and increase life satisfaction.

Abstract

The article "Need More Time?" delves into the concept of time perception, noting that while everyone has the same 24 hours, how we experience time varies greatly. It references philosophical perspectives from Albert Camus and Nikos Kazantzakis to illustrate different experiences of time's passage. The central argument is supported by research from Stanford University and the University of Minnesota, which indicates that awe can make individuals feel less impatient and more satisfied with life by altering their subjective experience of time. The article encourages readers to practice mindfulness and seek out moments of awe in daily life to improve their perception of time and overall well-being. It concludes with personal reflections on how the author has found awe through travel and photography, advocating for the value of awe in enriching our sense of time.

Opinions

Albert Camus is quoted to convey the heavy and slow passage of time.
Nikos Kazantzakis' perspective is presented to suggest that time moves quickly and is cyclical.
The article cites research that experiences of awe can improve life satisfaction and the perception of having more time.
Jeffrey Fry's quote emphasizes the importance of consistent, daily effort in personal improvement.
Fredrik Backman's opinion reflects on the subjective nature of time, influenced by our emotions and companions.
Julian Barnes muses on the malleability of time, shaped by our experiences and emotions.
The author's personal viewpoint encourages readers to find sources of awe in nature, music, art, and human achievements to enhance their perception of time.

Need More Time?

Give more time to the details — that is where you will find awe

Time drips, heavy, slow…― Albert Camus

Passing Time

One thing that everyone has in common: We all have 24 hours in each day. What varies greatly is how we use this time and how we perceive this time. Do you agree with Albert Camus, time drips, heavy, slow …?

Or, maybe you feel that Nikos Kazantzakis has a more accurate assessment: Time is round, and it rolls quickly.

Either way, time is passing and most people wish for more of it. We would all be billionaires if we had a penny for every time we’ve heard someone say some iteration of the sentiment … if I had more time.

Slowing down to smell the roses, or more fitting with this image, slowing down to sniff the foxgloves, can induce feelings of awe and help us feel like we have more time.

Research says

Research says (kind of like the family feud game show host): Survey says that awe improves our perception of time.

Three experiments showed that participants who felt awe, relative to other emotions, felt they had more time available and were less impatient. Participants who experienced awe also experienced greater life satisfaction. Mediation analyses revealed that these changes in well-being were due to awe’s ability to alter the subjective experience of time. Experiences of awe bring people into the present moment, and being in the present moment underlies awe.

Melanie Rudd, Kathleen D. Vohs, and Jennifer Aaker, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, and Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota in Psychological Science Research

Practice and Perception

Slowing down to be in the moment, taking note of the details of our surroundings, and feeling awe doesn’t come to everyone. It takes conscious effort and practice. It also helps to be in tune with our perception of time so we understand the impact of our thinking and actions. Here are a few quotes I find helpful in productively constructing a frame for my thinking about time:

To improve oneself you must be as persistent as the drip, drip, drip of water filling a bucket. Do a little bit, every day. ― Jeffrey Fry

We can get better at experiencing moments of awe just like we can get better at anything if we stick with it.

Another morning comes. It always does. Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds. Every day can mark a whole lifetime or a single heartbeat, depending on who you spend it with. — Fredrik Backman

We can’t change the actual speed of time but we have some power over how time feels to us, depending on what we do with our time.

We live in time — it holds us and molds us — but I never felt I understood it very well. And I’m not referring to theories about how it bends and doubles back, or may exist elsewhere in parallel versions. No, I mean ordinary, everyday time, which clocks and watches assure us passes regularly: tick-tock, click-clock. Is there anything more plausible than a second hand? And yet it takes only the smallest pleasure or pain to teach us time’s malleability. Some emotions speed it up, others slow it down; occasionally, it seems to go missing — until the eventual point when it really does go missing, never to return. — Julian Barnes

What other thoughts and perceptions do you have about time? Are there any shifts you need to make in your thinking about time to improve your life? Could feelings of awe help you?

Final Thoughts

Research says feelings of awe can improve our lives in many ways, including an upgrade to our perception of time. In the past couple of weeks, I have been traveling and taking a ton of photos. It has been flowers and insects that have caught my attention, but anything in nature, great music or art, and even extraordinary human acts can induce feelings of awe. Find what works for you!

Thanks for Reading! I hope everyone buys more valuable time by feeling more awe! We don’t have time to be perfect but we have time to make progress.

Thanks to Glad Doggett and The World Traveler’s Blog for editing services.