Psychological Time Zones

When we think, we time travel. If we are not present, then we are either thinking about the past or the future. These are the three psychological time zones: Past, Present, and Future. Being aware of what “Time Zone” you are in—i.e. Past, Present, or Future–is an important first step in controlling maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. There are appropriate times to be present, to reflect, and to imagine. First, we must establish if we are in the appropriate zone.

I once heard on the radio an excellent metaphor to better explain this point. Imagine your zones as though it were a car. A car is designed with a very large front windshield for optimal visibility. There are also small rear-view and side-view mirrors to see either yourself or things behind you. When we drive, we want to spend most of our time looking at the things directly in front of us and a little bit ahead. If we look too far down the road, our view is obstructed, and it would be dangerous to focus on things you can’t yet see for excessive periods of time. If we spend all our time looking behind us, then we never see where we are going.

We should strive to spend most of our time being present (through the windshield). Thinking about the past is not necessarily bad; who doesn’t like sitting with friends over an old photo album or rehashing memories? History teaches us to learn and adapt. However, if we don’t take away lessons from our past, we can find ourselves cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors.  Therefore, learn from past but be present focused. Regarding future thinking, it’s critical to plan. But, to worry and try to look beyond what we can anticipate will increase anxiety and reactive stress. By being aware of “your time zone” and adjusting to your thought process, we can improve both your feelings and behaviors.

To summarize:

1) Mindfully establish your zone

2) Evaluate if it’s helpful in the moment

3) Shift if not appropriate time zone

3) Adjust if engaging in a time zone in a maladaptive manner (i.e. negative self-talk about a mistake we made)

4) Practice daily mindfulness exercise to help improve awareness

 

George Corradino, LPC
Professional Licensed Counselor