Space, Time, Mind

What happens with speed of mind? We are always seeking the “up” energy: coffee, busy schedules, excitement for good things to come. Do we love it, the rush of the inner life?

What is the opposite, the slowness of mind? The thoughts space out, we feel dreamy, high: another state we seek, to counteract the busy-ness that we create, or succumb to.

Either state, speedy or slowed mind, can be disconnected from reality. Through thought, we create our own psychological time, which gives us an inner sense of space.

When we perceive that we have so much time, or too much time, we feel extra space, our energy diffuses, softens and spreads out. We need, in that state, a center force, a heightened awareness of purpose and will, or the energy falls out of us.

When we feel we have too little time, it comes with a compression of thoughts, a sense of small space. Energy and inner life feels chaotic, anxious/excited, with a sense of hurry. To transform this state into positivity, we need a flow. There needs to be a valve with which we can release the inner pressure and direct the energy along a current.

The feeling of inner space and time gives us the sense of slow or speedy thoughts. When there is much to think about, we need more time and space, to alleviate the rush and rashness/ stresses of spin cycling the mind. When we have few thoughts, we can move quicker, lighter, through our days and actions. We have a state of ease, an inner blankness.

There is also the reality of clock time: when the clock triggers/signals our actions, we need to maintain awareness of the difference between our perception of time and the measured passing of time. Skillfully slowing the thoughts allows us to enjoy the passing of time and all that we do in it.

The skill is in knowing the effect of time pressure, whether clock time or psychological time. The compression of space can be inspiring, or it can be draining/stressing. The same is true for having extra time: we can feel relaxed, when we have much to do and perceive that we have much time to do all, or we can feel bored and restless, when there isn’t direction or inspiration within.

Wasting time is not an option: our energy spills in the wrong direction, or drags us down, or lags behind. Attention, which is our inner direction of energy, is the way to direct, uplift, and engage our inner life.

Attention creates direction, it is more a function of space than time. When we are narrow in our attention, we feel focused, direct. This is perfect for small spaces, or the sensation of less time. When we broaden our attention, we feel expansive, all inclusive, and can enjoy free space-time. That is when we have our creative thoughts, and feel loose but alert.

When we bring attention to time, we come into the state of forgetting/remembering, as well as planning/envisioning. Drawing attention to our desires, without the pressure of time, will allow us to feel instant gratification, if we are happy with what is in our current space, or we will feel lack, if we are unhappy with the current conditions. Then, we have the inspiration we need, the direction required, to apply our energy towards time. If our work is good, the gratification feels not delayed but inevitable.