Sure, we experience the effects of time - we witness the sun rising and setting, the seasons changing, and the signs of aging.

But do we ever really know what time itself is?

Albert Einstein said, "The distinction between the past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

The past and the future are nothing but projections in our minds. Really, the only moment that exists is NOW- the eternal present moment.

Think about it: There is never a time when you are living in anything other than "this current moment.”

Once we understand this, we can start to see time as a tool, and not let the concepts of past and future affect our current state of mind.

This is the distinction between living with psychological time versus clock time.

Psychological time is the time that we experience in our minds, as memories of our past and projections for our future.

If we're not aware of it, we can get stuck living in psychological time.

Living in the past creates feelings of guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, and bitterness... which are all forms of non forgiveness.

Living in the future creates feelings of unease, anxiety, tension, stress, and worry, which are all forms of fear.

I used to be so anxious about the future. I just wanted it to come sooner.

When you're in that state, you dismiss the present moment because you think the future will bring you more happiness.

You just want to get to the end already, so you miss everything that's happening right now.

Clock time is the time that flows through every moment- it holds no emotional charge - it's just a tool that we can use for practical purposes.

Being practical with your time means living fully in the now, and utilizing clock time as a tool to create the life that you want.

You can be practical with your time by making appointments, planning ahead, setting goals and working towards them, or learning from the past so that you don't repeat the same mistakes over and over.

The key here is to be aware of where you want to go, but honor and give your fullest attention to the step that you are taking at this moment.

Realize that all actions can only be taken NOW.

Any planning or working toward a goal is done NOW.

Any lesson you've learned from the past can only be applied NOW.

So, how do you live with less stress, worry, fear, and negativity?

Just relax, and handle the present moment that's right in front of you. Be practical with your time.

Use it as a tool to get things done. Don't get stuck in your head, dwelling on the past or the future.

Because the moment before you is calling.