Relative Over Absolute [Psychology]
1 min read
I am constantly reminded of Janet's Law, the theory that mathematically demonstrates why time speeds up as we get older. We might like to think we perceive time linearly, like uniform blocks on a calendar, but the reality is our brains process time proportionally. At age 10 a year is a massive 10% of your life, By 20 its 5%, 30 its 3.3%.
Because your brain treats each year as a shrinking percentage of your overall experience, life this a steep acceleration curve right after you turn 20. I speculate this mathematical cliff is why so many face a crushing 'quarter life crisis'. The days literally begin to move faster.
The antidote to this acceleration is intentionality on breaking your routines. Seeking regular novelty intellectually and otherwise forces your brain out of autopilot and compels it to process dense, unfamiliar information. This sensory overload stretches your perception of time, making your weeks feel longer and more substantial in retrospect. This is why being constantly stimulated with responsibility and decisions is the ultimate gift.
Psalm 90:12 commands us to 'number our days'. While that level of tracking might seem extreme, hindsight always seems to rival the brutal scarcity of time. Biblically and psychologically, true wisdom appears to begin when you actively reclaim ownership of the clock.
JC