The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life

Every important decision you make is influenced by an important cognitive factor many people seem to overlook, perception of time, your internal and personal time zone. In The Time Paradox, Drs. Zimbardo and Boyd draw on over thirty years of research, teaching you about the psychology of time and how you individual time perspective shapes your life and is shaped by the world around you.

Your time perspective reflects attitudes, beliefs, and values related to time. The six-time perspectives identified are Past-negative, Past-positive, Present-Fatalistic, Present-Hedonistic, Future, and Transcendental-Future. Once you become aware of your personal time zone, you can begin to see and manage your life more mindfully, and have a better understand of other people's time orientation.

The book shows how different cultures, locations, economics and interactions with other individuals time zones can influence different time perspectives. A biased future time perspective serves people well in some situations but poorly in others. Only a balanced time perspective opens all paths to happiness. The Time Paradox gives you a practical plan for optimizing your blend of time perspectives so you will be able to overcome mental biases that keep you too attached to the past, too focused on immediate gratification, or unhealthily obsessed with future goals.