Time Shifting: Creating More Time to Enjoy Your Life

by Stephan Rechtschaffen, Thomas Moore (Foreword)

Do you ever feel so rushed that you can't stop to think?  That you don't have enough time to do your job well--or even to read this paragraph carefully?  That's because you spend your time either speeding forward or thinking about the past few minutes, without really concentrating on living in the present moment.

We all have the capacity to look at time--and, by doing so, to step into a new awareness of it and experience its next dimension, time freedom.  But we cannot just look with our eyes and understand with our mind, we must experience it with all the facets of our being; with all our senses, with our perceptions, our feelings, and our heart.  Timeshifting is the method for doing this, and how you can learn timeshifting is what this breakthrough book is about.

In Timeshifting, Stephan Rechtschaffen teaches us that time is subjective, not objective, and that we can take back control of our lives by changing the way we think about time.  We can relearn how to live our lives to their fullest potential; to have the time to enjoy ourselves, our families, and our jobs.   Timeshifting is not about time management; it won't teach you how to do more in a shorter period of time.  It will, however, give you back all the time you need to accomplish what you want, and you'll find that you are more relaxed, less stressed-out, and better able to enjoy the best things in life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Spirituality, Philosophy

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Polina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about being in the moment and slowing down. Forces one to reevaluate life priorities and is great for recovering workaholics or those who feel guilty when they are not busy doing something. Subtly life changing.

[Cosmin Stroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! A hole new way of life is presented by Stephan Rechtschaffen.

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two themes running through the book: mindfulness and entrainment, which is the synchronization of rhythms. You can choose to entrain with slower, more in-depth rhythms, while reveling in the present, or you can keep time with the more frenetic pace of modern society. Much of this book has been said before, but it was a helpful reminder to pay more attention to the present.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book because it isn't available through my local library system. I was researching the concept of time and got excited about the idea of a book about our ability to manipulate perception of it.

This book is not just about how to make more time in life. It's not a simple time management book. It's a whole way of living. With all its concepts combined, it's a somewhat new-to-me worldview. I had glimpses of and notions about most of these ideas, but hadn't read these thoughts grouped together, put into one book, or thought of them as a lifestyle choice until now.

I have felt time expand when I've been in nature or on other outings with my family when I've been fully present. It often feels supernatural or magical. It's something I have craved and didn't completely understand. In certain places and situations, time disappears and expands. It feels like a divine gift. This book helped me understand those experiences. What I didn't know is that I can create those feelings anywhere by being totally present and mindful. It wasn't the places or situations themselves necessarily, but what the situations and places naturally invite and make more possible.

Also, I had never before considered that when I rush through mundane tasks of life I am speeding up my time and not really living that part of my life. I have complained and felt controlled by things I must do and circumstances beyond my control that take up my time. It has been like living with blinders on just to survive and make it through. I have wasted that time. I can live them instead and expand my life.

I have been hesitant to plan because I sometimes have an overactive imagination where I can guess obstacles that may arrive in my future that will block the plan. This book has taught me that I need to plan in the present. I need to plan as if things will be as they are now and then follow beams of light into the future all the while being willing to take whatever comes. I can change my course and change my mind. I don't need to live in fear of what could happen. I need to be in the present with a future in mind. Living fully in the present can also minimize the regret of the past.

This book also makes it clear the too-fast wavelength of our culture. Our movies, our schedules, our work, the expectations of others, all these things make it difficult to even think clearly, live meaningfully and deliberately, and to be fully in the present. We can change that with our choices and our responses. We can slow down and truly live.

Another thing this book helped me think about is priorities. I have always felt that we do what matters to us and have wanted to be more intentional in how I use my time. I felt planning was important. I just didn't know how to connect all these ideas together. Slowing down is a big part of that.

I'm interested in the Omega Institute and in finding other people who live with this worldview.

I have only two complaints worth mentioning that aren't really a big deal, but they make it a four star book for me instead of five. First, I had trouble getting into it. I kept getting tripped up over the word "entrainment." I kept seeing "entertainment" instead. I understand what the word means and the concept of joining rhythms. I didn't take the time to find out it's a legitimate word and not just a made-up concept until I finished the book. I just let it bother me. The word still bothers me for some reason. Even so, I recognize I have felt the effects of rhythm, but the overall concept of controlling and influencing them is new to me. I just need to get used to it.

Second, the author seems to meander into subjects that seem irrelevant. I somewhat resolve this complaint by realizing it's because time shifting is an integral part of the author's worldview and so it affects everything. Yes, some parts of the book begin to feel tedious and almost unnecessary at times, but I can forgive.

I am surprised there are no copies of this book in my local library system. Maybe there are other books by the author that share the same concepts in a more concise, accessible way. I hope so. This book has important and helpful ideas that I will implement in my life. I would recommend it to someone willing to wade through it for its true and helpful concepts.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cu mulți ani în urmă, lucram într-o noapte ca medic de gardă la un spital, când a fost adus în grabă un politician din partea locului, Barry, care suferise, după toate aparențele, un atac de cord. L-am trimis imediat sus, la secția de cardiologie. Două zile mai târziu, când eram iar de gardă, m-am dus la cardiologie să văd ce face, ca să descopăr că ieșise din spital pe propria răspundere, împotriva sfaturilor medicilor. Peste zece zile, a fost adus iar de urgență la spital cu un al doilea atac de cord. L-am internat din nou și l-am întrebat de ce fugise data trecută, când era clar că acționase nu numai împotriva sfaturilor medicilor, ci și împotriva bunului simț. Mi-a spus: “Nu am timp să zac într-un spital. Am multe lucruri mult mai importante de făcut.” Era clar că dacă Barry nu-și schimba atitudinea în privința modului în care-și folosea timpul și-și stabilea priorități, nu i-ar mai fi rămas mult timp să-și facă griji.

[Islam Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book encouraging people to live in the moment. I only gave it 3 stars because most of the paragraphs seems to be running around on the same topic pressing the reader to loop on a repatitive narratives.

Overall a very nice book, really helped me in many times to get back from the fast pace work stress and live onto the moment in a way that I was able to incorporate that into my working style and now I love every moment that I live.

[Marie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to very basic mindfulness and entrainment. A nice refresher for the rest of us!

[Yamina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ondanks dat dit boek bijna 25 jaar oud is, is het zo op toepassing van nu.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book about living "now" in the present.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly philosophical, but some practical tips for living in the present moment.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For an ounce of doing good, Ram Dass says, you need a pound of sitting still and I would add that our desire to do good becomes a problem if we merely respond by doing. “


“We have no idea how to step into a new area where rest becomes as important as work and contemplation as important as consumption.”

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

From my own experience, I know that quality of life is influenced directly with how well I can be in the present moment. This book is about how to purposely step out of or step into the entrainment (synchronization) of your surroundings to come fully into the present moment to add depth to your life.

I would have rated this a 5-star if the author had spent less time repeating himself (felt like filler) and use that space to give more examples on how to apply his principles.

[Bill Donhiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The point of this book is to live in the present moment not in the future or the past. Sound advice for all of us. This book was assigned for a management class I took. I am a little embarrassed that I am just now getting around to reading it. Well Done.

[Aida]

something that changed my attitude towards time ...

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning how to live in the moment.

[Skye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bottom line - slow down and enjoy life. Good advice, but I guess I was looking for more practical answers.

[Neville Ridley-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to re-read this...

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. What I needed just before retiring.