Reimagining Time

Brandi Efiom
Jul 22, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Jul 25, 2022

Time keeps goin' so you can keep growin'.

We live in a world where everything around us is constantly moving. Not only are things moving, but they're moving fast and changing..at the same time! Time does not stop to acknowledge the heaviest of moments in the way most of us expect. Time never stops. But that doesn't mean we can't take a sacred pause for our sanity. Time does not stop because time provides the space that we need for healing and self-discovery. Time grants us the opportunity to take a moment to reflect. If time stopped, so would our growth. If time stopped, resilience would be a fallacy. If time stopped, so would our lives.

Take a minute to imagine where you would be right now if time stopped every time you wanted it to. You'd probably be stuck in the same unpleasant situation. Imagine what your life would look like if you breezed past the ugly moments and just made it to the good part. Well, the good part wouldn't exist. We would be the exact same person, making the same mistakes.

Instant gratification isn't sexy, growth is.

Anyone that knows me knows that I used to be highly impatient (I still am at times). I found delight in instant gratification. But, the more I work to appreciate every moment for what it is, the more I learn about myself. The process of learning to be patient still has helped me learn to find the lesson in some of life's most challenging moments. Instant gratification isn't as sexy as it sounds. A lifetime of instant gratification is a lifetime of missed opportunities. I'll even say it's not life; it's death in every aspect of life.

Take a minute to think about your proudest moment. Now, think about what you learned on your journey leading up to that moment. What valuable lessons have you learned and still carry with you today? Time helped birth those lessons. Time helped give you something that no one can ever take away from you, GROWTH.

Time provides space for healing and acceptance.

Not long ago, I was angry with God and discontent with how my life was panning out. However, I noticed a shift in my thinking once I learned to embrace time. I became less angry and disappointed and more grateful and open to the lessons life had to offer. I came to accept that I could not change the circumstances that resulted in loss, rejection, doubt, and sadness, but I could definitely use them as a resource to build a better life and make better decisions. Time did what it does best, kept going. That forced me to keep going. By keep going, I mean take a sacred pause and live in the present. I stopped trying to rush through the tough times or get lost in the past.

While I knew I had to keep moving forward, I also knew I did not want to keep making the same mistakes. Time gave me the space and opportunity to reflect. The lessons learned helped me break some of my unhealthy patterns.

How to begin building a healthier relationship with time.

If you're reading this and feel like time is passing you, I promise you it's not. Time is making space for the good things to come to fruition. Yes, there is such a thing as wasting time, so use it wisely. But stop trying to compete with time.

Take a moment to think about your relationship with time. Do you see time as a resource or a barrier? Create a t-chart. Label one side "barrier" and the other side "resource." Under the "barrier" section, write down ways you view it as a barrier. Under the "resource" section, write down ways that the perceived obstacle is a resource. I've created an example of the chart below.