In just a few days, the year 2017 will come to an end. Endings create emotions within us. We imagine time as a scarce commodity. We see the limitations. We try to seize the moment. We long to savor every last drop. We are afraid we may miss out.
Our sense of time affects our goals. An explanation of this phenomenon comes from Laura Carstensen’s “socioemotional selectivity theory.” It appears that when we perceive time as short or limited – when endings seem near – we prefer to spend our time doing things that feel good or feel meaningful right now. Endings help us to stay more focused on the present moment. We may not want to think about what happens next.
You may have experienced this phenomenon when you were enjoying a week’s vacation. The first few days are a time of transition from work to play. You have a whole week ahead of you. You get familiar with your new surroundings. The next few days may be a time of exploration. Then the last days become a whirlwind of activities of things “I want to do before I leave”. When the end is near, time is more precious. And we try to cram everything in. Age doesn’t matter. Whether we are 9 or 90, when we perceive time as finite, we attach greater value to finding satisfaction in that moment.
Since this sense of time can affect your goals and motivation, it’s best to realize that the counting of time is arbitrary. There is only now. The only time there ever will be is now. Nothing is really coming to an end except the calendar page. If you get all caught up in this ending, you will lose sight of tomorrow – your dreams of the future.
Consider that the success you realize in achieving your goals in the future is directly related to the time you spend now in focusing on your goals. When you recognize the now moment, you realize that all time is short or limited. And that life is a series of moments. One moment at a time.
Whether the calendar says 2017 or 2018, remember you are a creator right now. Don’t let a distorted sense of time stand in the way of your goals. There are no endings. They are all beginnings.
In “The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember”, Fred Rogers says, “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else. I’ve felt that many times. My hope for all of us is that “the miles we go before we sleep” will be filled with all the feelings that come from deep caring – delight, sadness, joy, wisdom – and that in all the endings of our life, we will be able to see the new beginnings.”