Time is one of those things that we all have some understanding of. At the same time, however, it is one of those terms for which there are many varying understandings and seemingly no precise definition.

In many attempts to define the term ‘time’; we often use the very word as part of the definition. Although time is an ever-present concern of humans; this only clearly demonstrates the difficulty in formulating a clear precise and easily understood definition to which we will all universally agree and accept.

There has always been an awareness of time throughout history or more accurately since humans develop consciousness.

It is just as important to have some understanding of terms awareness, cognition or consciousness, knowledge and the mind in order to better understand time.

Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of yourself and surroundings. This is due to the functions or affects on the higher nervous activities of that most important organ, the brain.

Cognition is the psychological result of perception, learning and reasoning. Perception is the awareness through our senses.

Awareness is defined as having knowledge of something.

The crucial question obviously arises: what is knowledge and what does it means to know?

Knowledge is often used as a synonym for cognition, but the most accurate definition of knowledge or the act of knowing is simply the process by which information or any stimulus is recorded on the brain.

The stages of this most complex reaction in a simplified form can be represented as: stimulus or stimuli from the environment being transmitted along afferent nerve pathways to the central nervous system, this is then imprinted or recorded and interpreted instantaneously and the subsequent reaction or reactions transmitted along effective nervous pathways.

It is this process of recording on the brain, memory, that gives us awareness and it is the acting upon our awareness and reasoning out things that we have knowledge.

It is through this complex process of acting upon our awareness, by recalling the recorded information or stimuli (memory) and reasoning on the various stimuli that we have the results of feeling and different responses. This we attribute to the development of the mind. The mind is therefore, the most important natural development.

Having outlined an understanding of these key concepts, then any definition or understanding of time is better understood or appreciated.

Time can be viewed as a kind of acronym which means: thoughts in mind of events. This underlines the fact that time is a creation or concept develop by humans to record or make a note of events: the past, that which has already occurred, the present that which is currently occurring and the future that which is anticipated.

Based on this definition or concept one can reasonably conclude that if nothing happens, then there is no time. If there is no awareness or consciousness then there is no time. It is all in the mind.

People often say that time moves forward and often the concept is one of linear motion. But, an interesting question and observation are worth mentioning. At what specific point or time does today become tomorrow? Is this a fraction of a second after midnight? And does time really move forward or is this simply how we imagine it or formulate it in our minds?

It is worth mentioning that today cannot become tomorrow without at one and the same moment or time automatically become yesterday! In other words, the specific moment or time that today, the present becomes the future, today becomes also yesterday. It is for this reason it is clearly understood the concept that there is only the present, one continuous now and all that we have or will ever have is now!

At what pace does time move? This again is very subjective to individual experiences.

When we are in a heightened state of awareness or consciousness then time seems to move slowly or at a slower pace. The reverse is also true. When we are in a slumber or at a lower level of awareness, then time seemingly moves at a faster pace.

Our level of expectations also influences our concept of the pace at which time seems to move.

These two points can be demonstrated by common human experiences. When we are on a trip to somewhere, for the first time, the forward journey or time to reach appears much longer. This is because everything is unfamiliar along the way when we are heading there. The return, travelling at the same pace, seems to be less time because we are somewhat familiar with the scenes along the way. It becomes even more obvious if that journey becomes part of our daily routine.

The second example is demonstrated by the fact that when we are in eager anticipation of an event. For example, when we badly need money and payday is a few days away, then time seems to move slowly. The reverse holds true. When there is an event that we are not eagerly anticipating, like an exam for which we are not fully prepared then time seems to move so fast.

These examples have clearly demonstrated that our consciousness of time, that ever-present concern is only a concept, thoughts in the mind of events, simply put, all in the mind.