To get a solid grip on Calendar Time, let’s first round out and summarise Psychological Time before comparing the two.
- General Time: The stream of thoughts about Yesterday and Tomorrow, currently running through the surface of my mind.
- Distressed Time: Negative-charged thoughts that weigh heavily on me—this is the loud ticking of the clock, where my perception of space compresses, making life feel longer, heavier, and harder as I wait for this timeframe to end.
- Free-Flowing Time: Positive-charged thoughts that take me far away from distress. This wondrous internal experience creates a greater sense of spaciousness through the pleasure centre. The downside is that it is always only ever short-lived.
Introducing Calendar Time (Aka Physical Time)
When not referring to the measure of psychological activity, Time reverts to its traditional context of Calendar, Planetary or Chronological Time. Since we were all raised alongside this aspect of Time, it will be far more familiar and relatable. To underscore its contrast to the Psychological Time aspect, let’s now call this typical life-known, Physical Universe version, Calendar Time. Other words to describe it are External, Shared or Outer Time. As well as being the version of time everyone is familiar with, Calendar Time is usually the ONLY version most people are even aware of ⏲.
Now, let’s compare Calendar Time to Psychological Time and explore their unique roles in shaping our reality.
Calendar Time is a collective measure that synchronises my physical actions with people, objects, and the world around me. It’s the interval I use to coordinate my behaviour with others, ensuring relationships and interactions are functional and harmonious. Neglecting this system leads to disorganisation, which negatively impacts not only my relationships but also my overall health and wellbeing.
In contrast, Psychological Time exists within the abstract and emotional realm. While Calendar Time is external and shared, Psychological Time is personal and internal. It fluctuates between the emotions of pleasure and fear, driven by Yesterday and Tomorrow, which can alter my perception of Calendar Time—or transport me to an entirely different sense of time.
Now that you’ve broadened your perspective on Time (unless you already saw it this way), let’s dive deeper. In the pages ahead, we’ll explore other Time systems, subsystems, and variants that influence both our inner and outer worlds.