Time Perspective

According to Philip Zimbardo, we all develop a specific attitude towards time (Time perspective).

Past, present or future orientated?
In The Time paradox Zimbardo explains that people turn out to be primarily past, present or future orientated. Each perspective has a detailed possible orientation (focus):


It's clear that our now-actions strongly depend on our perception of the present and the future. This perception has has been influenced by how we perceived the past. Therefore, our future actions will be influenced by how we perceive the present - as it appears to us right now - as well.

Form this we may conclude that our future happiness is strongly defined by how (positive) we experience the 'now'.

Experiencing the 'now' as a positive and constructive phase in your life, even in times of adversities, demands a conscious mind and a healthy style of thinking.

Healthy thinkstyle perspective
Based on research and his own definition of a 'healthy thinkstyle' in life , Zimbardo developed an ideal time perspective score (red dots):

Take the test
If you wonder what your Time perspective score is, take the test:

Take the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory

Changing Time Perspective
As you grow up, your Time-perspective changes.
When you're young, you're almost not influenced by your past and you don't worry about your future, you just live in the present and simply take what comes.

As you grow up, you've learned from the past and become conscious of the consequences of your actions. You think about your future, feel responsibility and are able to postpone actual benefits in exchange for (more or increased) future benefits.

When we grow old, the past will influence and determine our actions more and more until our last phase in life, where future and present transform in a kind of transcendental state. In this stage your present and decisions are from another order. Physically you're here on good old earth, but in a spiritual way you've already risen to your new destiny.....

Zen-Present
However, back to the present., Zimbardo continues that living in the present can also be in a Zen-like perspective, illustrated by the next sanskrit verse:

Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow but a vision
But today 'well lived' makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope

So it's you who can create a heaven on earth.

Use Zimbardo's time-perspective to be(come) like you wanna be.

When to decide?

In life you'll have to take all kind of decisions. Easy or tuff decisions, you'll always try to take the right decision or the best choice.
Even a indecision is a kind of decision.

Although there's a list of traditional Decision Making Techniques, the decision you take depends heavily on the moment of decision.



Almost any personal decision process consists of several phases

• The Good Idea Phase
  Often it 'starts with' a good idea or an opportunity or possible decision (for solving a problem) that 'looks like' a 'good idea'.
  Deciding in this stage could be qualified as : Impulsive.
  For small decisions this 'way of deciding' could work out fine. If the decision is successful, you enjoy it. It has the opportunity of incidentally creating a great unexpected success. If it turns out wrong, you just throw the idea away and you're not disappointed.
  
  
• The However Phase
  In this phase you quickly focus on the possible disadvantages of this 'good idea'.
  By deciding in this stage you reduce the amount of downside risk of your decision from your own perspective.
  Deciding in this face is more balanced and suits decisions with medium sized (personal) risks.
  
  
• The On the other Hand Phase
  In this phase you focus on the advantages of the 'good idea'.
  Taking a decision in this phase, leads to rational decisions with respect to your own environment.
  
  
• The But my Heart says Phase
  Now you take your 'gutfeeling' into the decision process.
  What your heart says, is taken into account.
  Deciding in this phase leads to emotional balanced decisions. Watch out for 'too much emotional arguments in your final decision'.
  
  
• The What Others say Phase
  In this stage you include 'what other people think or would decide' in your decision.
  An advice of a good friend that knows you well could perhaps make you conscious of your pitfalls or blind spots.
  Watch out for 'getting dependent' in this stage. It's mostly wise to listen to our 'true friends', keep making your own decisions.
  
  
• The I must take a Decision Phase
  Often we don't have to decide, but we feel we do.
  We get desperate. Weighting all facts of the idea or problem still on leads to a fifty-fifty situation.
  Deciding in this phase (deciding 'something'), concerning ideas with big consequences, often leads to dividement, separation and chaos.
  Go back to what you would have had decided in the rational phase or become enlightened and decide nothing until destiny decides for you.
  
  
• The Zen Phase
  When we are conscious of everything, we'll take no decisions at all. We know and accept that 'taking decisions' is the same as sailing a boat in a tropical storm: It helps, it's certainly important, but the sea is in charge and 'decides'. So be sure to choose the right sea!

Sometimes there are other ways on how to decide, like:
The Best Decisions a Person Can Make

• Decide to decide
• Decide to build character
• Decide to pursue the best option
• Decide to forgive
• Decide to always get better
  
  

Anyhow, be conscious about the timing of decisions !