HANDS:
hands
hands title:
§15. Rule 9: Time
hands date:
15 October 2025
hands text:
What does one enjoy in such a situation?
Nothing external to oneself;
nothing except oneself
and one’s own existence.
So long as this state lasts,
one is sufficient unto oneself, like God.
Nothing external to oneself;
nothing except oneself
and one’s own existence.
So long as this state lasts,
one is sufficient unto oneself, like God.
01
I have a somewhat complicated relationship with time: it exists and it doesn't.
02
It exists in the sense that I live in a real world and the amount of time I spend finishing a job matters. It governs my schedules, my sense of progress and my finances. Yet, while engaged in a task, time seems to disappear, slipping out of awareness as if it never existed at all.
03
This duality shapes the way I think about time and the way I work.
04
Time certainly exists in the most practical sense: I live in a tangible world where deadlines must be met and projects completed. The number of hours or days I dedicate to a job has real consequences. In that regard, time functions as a measuring stick for effort, efficiency and achievement.
05
However, something interesting happens once I immerse myself in my work. Time seems to vanish. Minutes and hours lose their meaning and all that matters is the task itself.
06
I believe that this state of flow — where I become entirely absorbed in an activity — cannot coexist with constant awareness of the clock. If I keep glancing at the time, worrying about how much has passed, I interrupt the very focus required to do the job well. In that sense, effective work demands that time, at least temporarily, cease to exist.
07
To manage this paradox, I like to pause periodically and “check in” with reality — glancing at the clock, noting how much time has passed and comparing it with my internal sense of rhythm. This act of recalibration helps me stay grounded, ensuring that my inner clock remains aligned with the external world.
08
By doing so, I gain insight into my habits and improve my ability to plan future projects more accurately. It becomes, therefore, a matter of both discipline and self-knowledge.
09
Yet, I also believe deeply in the importance of silencing the “inner timekeeper.” This internal voice — the one constantly reminding me of the ticking clock — can become a distraction. To work effectively and creatively, we must learn to quiet it, allowing ourselves to be fully present in what we are doing.
10
Mastering that balance between awareness and timelessness may be one of the most valuable skills we can develop: the art lies in knowing when to honour its passing—and when to forget it altogether.