The Time Paradox

Introduction

"Your life and your time are the subjects of this book: how to improve, deepen, and make more meaningful your relationship with both, based on the lessons we have learned from more than thirty years of studying the nature of time."

The First Paradox

"The first paradox of time is that your attitude toward time has a profound impact on your life and on how you view the world around you, yet you are seldom aware of it."

On Ernest Becker

"Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize for arguing that an all-encompassing fear of death is part and parcel of the human condition. From Becker’s perspective, the human psyche cannot handle the concept of death, so we deny it. Humans cannot accept their mortality."

Memory as Reconstruction

"Most people believe that their memories contain what actually happened in the past and that those memories are immutable. Sadly, they are not... Memory is a reconstruction, influenced by beliefs, expectations, and available information."

Implanting False Memories

"Experiments have shown that false memories can be implanted simply by asking certain questions about your past. This means that some of the events you 'remember' never actually happened... You may ask, 'What percentage of my memories are false?' No one can answer that question."

Overcoming Addiction

"To recover from a serious addiction, you must follow a highly structured daily routine in which every minute is accounted for."

The Proverb of the Camel

"Trust in Allah, but tie your camel."

Talent and Discipline

"Talent, intelligence, and skills are necessary but not sufficient for success. Discipline, persistence, and a sense of efficacy are also required."

Believing in Success

"When you want to achieve something and believe it’s possible, you put in more effort."

Emotions vs. Reason

"Emotions deal with the present. The capacity to think is designed to prepare us for the future."

The Power of Choice and Reconstruction

"You can choose how to reconstruct your past, how to interpret your present, and what future to work toward. You can choose to remember the wonderful glass of wine you had yesterday and forget the bottle of wine you spilled last week. You can choose to see the glass as half-full today and enjoy its bouquet. You can decide that you expect your glass to be filled to the brim tomorrow. You best use your time by consciously choosing happiness over despair, joy over heartbreak, and pleasure over pain."

The Three Days of Life

"In the end, only three days matter: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yesterday represents all the days we have lived until now. Tomorrow represents everything that is yet to come. Three days—that is all we are given in this life.