"Emotions can also be a form of time travel. How does nostalgia transport you to a different time? How does anticipation propel you into the future?" the time traveller moved on. "Consider also humanity's collective journey through time. Events overview that have shaped human history—wars, discoveries, revolutions, and movements. A timeline mural could be a powerful way to depict our shared past and future aspirations. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion that transports us back to specific moments in our past. It is often triggered by sensory experiences such as a familiar scent, a piece of music, or an old photograph. When we experience nostalgia, we're essentially travelling back in time to relive those cherished memories, evoking feelings of warmth, happiness, and sometimes bittersweet longing.
The opposite of Nostalgia is Anticipation. Anticipation propels us forward, as we imagine and prepare for future events. This emotion is often characterized by excitement, hope, and sometimes anxiety. Anticipation is our way of mentally and emotionally travelling to a future moment, envisioning the possibilities and outcomes.
In The Psychology of Time Perception (2016, Palgrave Macmillan), John Wearden discusses how our internal clock-based models of time perception are influenced by cognitive processes and emotional states. Strong emotions, whether positive or negative, can distort our perception of time. For example, time may seem to fly by when we're having fun or drag on when we're bored or anxious. This phenomenon is often called 'time dilation' or 'time compression.'
Our memories are closely tied to our emotions. Events that evoke strong emotions are often remembered more vividly and can seem to have lasted longer than they did. This can create a subjective sense that time has passed differently for emotionally charged events compared to neutral ones. Emotions can affect our level of attention, which in turn influences our perception of time. When we're highly focused on an emotional experience, we may lose track of time, leading to a distorted sense of its passage.
Wearden also explores how cognitive processes interact with emotions to shape our sense of time. For instance, our expectations and predictions about future events can influence how we perceive the passage of time. If we anticipate something eagerly, time may seem to drag until it happens, whereas if we dread an event, time may seem to speed up as we approach it.
In summary, emotions and cognition are deeply intertwined in shaping our perception of time. Understanding this relationship can help us appreciate why time seems to move differently in various situations and how our emotional experiences leave lasting impressions on our sense of time.
According to 'Why Life Speeds Up as You Get Older: How Memory Shapes Our Past' by Douwe Draaisma (2004, Cambridge University Press), our memories and the way we recall past events significantly influence our perception of time, especially as we age.
As we age, our memories tend to become more compressed. Significant events from our distant past can seem as vivid and real as recent occurrences. This compression can make it feel like time is speeding up because fewer new memories are being formed compared to earlier in life.
Older adults often remember events that are emotionally charged or significant, while less important details fade. This selective memory can create a sense of time passing quickly because the most memorable moments stand out more prominently. We construct narratives of our lives, and these stories shape how we perceive time. As we age, we may focus more on the overarching story of our lives rather than individual moments, which can make time seem to pass more rapidly.
Draaisma discusses the idea that as we get older, each year represents a smaller proportion of our total life span. For example, a year at age 5 is a significant portion of one's life, but at age 50, it's a much smaller fraction. This proportional change can make time feel like it's speeding up.
Draaisma's exploration of autobiographical memory provides valuable insights into why time seems to accelerate as we age. By understanding how our memories shape our perception of time, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the way our minds construct our personal timelines.
In Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill Your Potential (2006, Random House), Dr. Carol S. Dweck explores the concept of "fixed" versus "growth" mindsets and how these perspectives influence personal and professional success. People with a fixed mindset believe that abilities, intelligence, and talents are static and unchangeable. They think success is a reflection of innate talent rather than effort or learning. They often avoid challenges to protect their self-esteem and fear failure because it confirms their limitations.
People with a growth mindset believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. They think, 'I can improve with effort and strategy.' Challenges are opportunities to grow. Failure is viewed as a chance to learn and improve, not a measure of self-worth.
According to Dweck, praise or criticism during childhood can shape one's mindset. For instance, praising effort encourages a growth mindset, while praising innate ability fosters a fixed mindset. People differ in how they perceive challenges, setbacks, and effort. Schools, workplaces, and social settings may emphasize performance (fixed mindset) over learning (growth mindset), shaping individuals accordingly. Internal dialogues influence how people approach obstacles and setbacks.
People with a fixed mindset may perceive time as something finite and rigid, emphasizing immediate results. They often fear "wasting time" on efforts that might not yield success quickly, as they equate failure with a permanent lack of ability. They might dwell on past failures or focus on preserving their current image of competence, avoiding future risks that require prolonged effort. A fixed mindset might lead someone to avoid challenges if they don't see an immediate payoff, viewing time spent struggling as a sign of failure. In environments with a fixed mindset (e.g., performance-oriented workplaces or schools), the perception of time may emphasize short-term results and deadlines, discouraging the iterative process of learning.
Those with a growth mindset view time as an ally in development. They believe that effort and learning accumulate over time, leading to improvement. Growth-minded individuals are more likely to invest in long-term goals, understanding that success and mastery are gradual processes that require patience and sustained effort. Growth-oriented environments value time for reflection, experimentation, and incremental progress, reinforcing the idea that effort over time yields improvement.
Dweck emphasizes that it's never too late to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset. This belief ties to the perception of time as open-ended and full of opportunities for reinvention and growth. Mindsets influence how people perceive time, and vice versa. A fixed mindset can lead to a constrained, short-term view of time, while a growth mindset opens up the perception of time as a continuum for development and potential. Embracing the latter allows individuals to navigate challenges with resilience and optimism, fully utilizing the opportunities time provides.
Dweck presents two distinct interpretations of 'failure,' depending on whether an individual has a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. In a fixed mindset, failure is seen as a reflection of a person's inherent limitations or inadequacies. People with a fixed mindset view failure as evidence that they are not smart, talented, or capable. It often leads to feelings of shame, avoidance of challenges, and a fear of taking risks to protect one's self-image. Failure is final and personal, not something that can be improved or learned from.
In a Growth Mindset, failure is viewed as a natural part of the learning process and an opportunity for growth. It is not seen as a measure of a person's worth but as feedback on how to improve. People with a growth mindset see failure as temporary and as a stepping stone to mastery and success. They embrace failure as a necessary part of achieving long-term goals.
Dweck references successful individuals like Edison, who famously reframed his failures as experiments leading to success ('I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work'). This is emblematic of the growth mindset's approach to failure. In studies, students praised for their effort (growth mindset) handled failure better and persevered, whereas those praised for innate ability (fixed mindset) often gave up when faced with failure. So, in the fixed mindset, failure is a dead end—a confirmation of inability. In the growth mindset, failure is a learning opportunity—a chance to refine, adjust, and grow.
Dweck challenges conventional beliefs about ability and accomplishment through her research on mindsets. Dweck asserts that abilities are not static traits you're born with. Instead, they can be cultivated and expanded through effort, learning, and persistence. She draws on psychological and neuroscientific evidence to show that the brain can grow and change with experience, reinforcing the idea that people can improve their abilities over time. Effort, practice, and resilience are the primary drivers of accomplishment, not just talent or natural intelligence. While innate ability can provide an advantage, it is not the sole determinant of success. Overemphasizing talent can lead to complacency (in a fixed mindset) or fear of failure.
Dweck argues that failure is a natural part of progress. Facing challenges, making mistakes, and learning from them are essential for improvement. Accomplishment stems from a willingness to tackle difficult tasks and persevere through obstacles, viewing them as opportunities for growth.
Dweck encourages us to reframe our understanding of failure, seeing it not as a verdict on their abilities but as an essential part of personal and professional development. A fixed mindset can stifle progress by leading individuals to avoid challenges or give up when faced with difficulty. Conversely, a growth mindset fosters resilience, adaptability, and innovation. Believing in the potential for improvement is crucial. Those who adopt a growth mindset see effort as a pathway to mastery. True achievement comes from consistent effort and a focus on learning, not from trying to prove oneself through outcomes. Accomplishment built on growth and persistence tends to be more enduring than success reliant solely on raw talent or luck. Success is not about who you are but about who you can become. By adopting a growth mindset, people can unlock their potential, overcome limitations, and achieve greater heights than they ever thought possible.
Abstract art is uniquely suited to expressing these emotional journeys, as it allows for a wide range of interpretations and personal connections. By exploring and expressing these emotional journeys through abstract art, you can create a powerful visual representation of the way emotions connect us to different points in time. This approach not only allows for personal reflection but also invites viewers to connect with their own emotional experiences.
We will continue our discussion after all the fireworks have been released. Biidhnillah."
