Final Paper- Time and Culture

Our relationship with Time tends to be very dynamic- shifting from emotional, to relieving and stabilizing. Western cultures use time as a tool to maintain a schedule, a direction, and an income. In the West, time has a very high price tag, moves fast, and seems to always be in short supply. Whereas, in Eastern culture, Time is viewed in a more cyclical and interdependent way. Yet, regardless of our cultural influence of time, experiences are what create our perception of time and affects our attitude towards it.

For example, noticing the time while at a job that you dislike often creates the illusion that time is moving slowly. And conversely, when you are truly enjoying what you are doing, time seems to move more quickly. It is not that time is actually speeding up or slowing down, but our experience of space, quantified by a numerical value is what defines time.

Western cultures tend to have more anxiety around time, and according to the Lewis Model, this has to do with the linear association of time. This is indicated by the very sequential way in which tasks are prioritized and completed- one by one, in order to move forward on a plan or toward a goal. This association combined with the exponentially increasing price it costs to live in Westernized cultures, makes one’s time quite expensive. Thus, there is pressure to stay on time with your schedule, on task with your goals, and on track with a quickly, forward moving pace.

The linear association with time takes great organizational skills, and thus those who this comes naturally to, or who can pay for it have an easier time keeping up with the flow of time. However, this model has many people stressed, lacking self-awareness, and dis-eased. And unfortunately, it is quickly becoming the dominant influence, forcing others into its mold. However, the Eastern association with time is very different and this creates an interesting situation.

Eastern culture views time as cyclical and connected, which means that one moment affects another moment. Not only does this apply to one's own life, but also that of their succeeding generations. Specifically with Asian medicine, as we've learned, this understanding applies to one's overall health- of Qi, Blood, Essence, and Spirit.

When it is understood that what you are doing now will affect your offspring, there is greater accountability. This creates more self- awareness among Eastern cultures because to take care of your health requires this heightened awareness. Western cultures also have a certain level of accountability, but it is focused primarily on money- believing that one should create a financially sustainable future for their progeny.

    The meaning and experience of time varies greatly across cultures. It is important to consider what you value most as an individual when defining your perception of time. We are blessed to live in a time of global technology where we can learn the perspectives of other cultures and be able to implement that which serves us best.