LET’S TALK ABOUT TIME TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE
We cannot speak about the future without addressing the concept of time. Discussing the future means stepping beyond the present, looking past the horizon, and considering longevity alongside the impact of our actions.
Time is probably the most democratic thing there is. It flows in the same way for every one of us, and the hands of the clock complete the same circle, day after day, inexorably.
Days follow one another, light alternates with dark, the moon moves through its phases, and the seasons make way for each other in a steady rhythm.
Meanwhile, our hearts beat regularly, beyond our control, and life goes on.
Yet our perception of time is not the same for everyone, just as the way we look to the future differs.
Seneca, in De Brevitate Vitae, noted that time is the most valuable resource we have. However, because it is intangible, we give it away and spend it without considering its worth—so much so that we often forget its value entirely.
Today, research suggests there is a profound connection between our internalised concept of time and the behavioural skills we can develop and put into practice.
As we look to the future, multiculturalism and dialogue across different generations can become strategic assets for developing a broad, integrated perspective on time.
Let’s discover how and why…
We can essentially identify three distinct perspectives on time.
TIME IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
Imagine being in ancient Greece, long before the Christian era.
People observe the passage of time and perceive it as circular.
Life moves forward, but events return and recur, seemingly untouched by our footprints—much like waves breaking over the sand we have just walked upon. This maintains an enduring confidence that a new balance will always be restored, even amidst complexity.
The future is reflected in the past, and the past in the future. And the present?
The present acts as the bridge connecting these two dimensions.
This classical viewpoint looks at time with detachment and respectful acceptance, acknowledging its inevitable independence and rooting it within a more “natural” and “environmental” sphere.
Time belongs to the world, and human beings, being part of that world, experience it with an awareness of this broader dimension.
TIME IN THE MODERN ERA
If we instead immerse ourselves in a more modern era, time takes on a linear form: it is an arrow where the future becomes the centre of gravity.
Consequently, modern thinkers were driven to cultivate—and expect from others—the capabilities needed to “shape the future”. They are naturally inclined towards innovation, forward planning, and creativity.
This is a much more “human-centric” dimension. Humanity becomes the measure of progress; we perceive the passage of time, realise we cannot change it, and seek to direct it in order to track our own growth and that of the world around us.
Human life does not repeat itself; it advances along a line, with no turning back. This perspective, which allows us all to perceive evolution, places greater weight on our actions, so that we step onto the stage of history and can observe the mark we leave behind.
Crucially, these perspectives are not mutually exclusive alternatives; they can coexist, with varying nuances, shaped by geographic, cultural, social, and personal factors.
Certain religions, for instance, lead us to see time as cyclical and recurring, regardless of the era in which we were born and live.
DIGITAL TIME
Today, alongside these two persisting dimensions, a third has emerged: digital time.
Suddenly, time is no longer a straight line moving towards the future and growth; it has become an entity moving faster than we are.
We run at full speed to keep up, but we feel breathless. To stay in the race, we must adapt, remain flexible, and constantly devise new solutions.
We develop a mindset geared towards impermanence.
While the ancients viewed the passage of time from above and the “moderns” sought to govern it, the “contemporaries” are inclined to “merge with the clock”. The word “digital” itself stems from the idea of touch and sensation.
We experience time with intense personal and emotional involvement. Emotions sweep over us constantly, leading us to observe ongoing shifts in scenery, often with a sense of frustration.
Digital time essentially dissolves both the sense of recurrence and the long-term horizon of the future, replacing them with a state of transience. Continuous occurrence defines the digital space, where past and present blur together, and the future becomes merely the anticipation of the next shift.
We continually outpace ourselves: knowledge gained is instantly upgraded, ideas shared are rapidly diffused and transformed. Speed allows us to cover ever more ground in the same amount of time, yet we feel as though everything slips through our fingers because the space is virtual.
WHY IS IT CRUCIAL TO UNDERSTAND ALL THESE DIMENSIONS?
- The first dimension is instinctive, natural, reflective, and spiritual.
- The second grants us agency, control, and space for self-determination.
- The third concept is tied to relentless change and looking ahead to what comes next.
And yet… the more new things we seek and discover, the faster time seems to move, calling for sophisticated, unprecedented tools.
When we enable these three dimensions to coexist within the same context, people become more adept at shifting between them in how they interact with one another and the world, building greater adaptability to diverse situations and perspectives.
To achieve this, we need to foster dialogue across generations, cultures, and languages. It is precisely this diversity that makes us custodians of a richer, more complete vision.
Without building bridges for valuable, generative dialogue, each of us risks becoming entrenched in our own view of the future. This creates misalignments between expectations and real behaviours when engaging with those who hold a different perception of time.
By igniting and nurturing this dialogue, we can…
- strengthen our capacity for planning and forward thinking
- visualise and prepare for strategic execution
- activate the full spectrum of capabilities we bring to the table
Here lies another compelling reason to work on communication across all levels, starting with an intriguing new question:
Which dimension of time do we carry within us today?
