Slow down to live longer - Deepak Chopra

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Experiments have shown that our interpretation of time influences our biology, says Deepak Chopra

 

The way we interpret the concept of time brings about distinct physiological changes in the body-mind. This is a fascinating aspect of our biology. Let me give you a few examples.

The circadian rhythm, which controls the cycles of sleep and rest, appetite and elimination, is easily disrupted by travelling across different time zones. Yet once while I was on a flight from Boston to London, I met an old friend. We were having such a good time that 'time flew'. When we arrived in London, we didn't even have jet lag. Because of this faint notion that "time was flying," our biology was unaffected by the change in time zones.

Experiments have shown that our interpretation of time influences our biology. For example, what does the word Monday mean to you? An astonishing fact is that more people die in our culture on Monday mornings at nine o'clock than at any other time of the week. That's a stunning accomplishment for which only the human species can take credit. No other animal knows the difference between Monday and Tuesday. And what is the difference? The difference is an idea, a notion, a thought — what Monday means to us or how we interpret it. There are people who say "I'm running out of time" because they have ten deadlines to meet. They are constantly trying to 'beat time'. They look at the same clock that you and I are looking at, but for them it's moving faster as a result of their internal perception of time. If you measure their biological responses, you find that their heart rates are faster, their blood pressure is higher, their insulin levels are higher, and they have more heart arrhythmias per minute. And when they suddenly drop dead of a heart attack, time has indeed run out for them. They have converted their internal experience of time running out into the physical experience of time running out. There are other people whose perception, internal dialogue, and interpretation of time is "I have all the time in the world". And we find that their heart rate is slower, their blood pressure is lower, their biological responses are much smoother, and they live longer.