Whenever you learn a new word or concept, it can change the way you view the world. Often it also adds a useful tool you can use to navigate life differently. For instance, the 80/20 Rule (aka Pareto Principle) can help you look for key things and actions that really produce results and as a consequence let go of the small stuff. The concept of Antifragility might change your view of volatility and risk – how to live with uncertainty and how to not only survive, but rather gain from shocks to the system. “Black swan” is another term that neatly summarizes a larger concept and can provide a clear mental image for a (complex) chain of events.
Recently, I’ve reflected a lot on a set of terms that have their origins in Greek mythology: the chronos/kairos distinction. Apparently, the greek had two words for time: chronos and kairos.
- chronos: linear, sequential time
- kairos: numinous, qualitative time
Origins in Greek Mythology
Before going into the actual differences and some ideas on how to experiment with chronos/kairos, let’s briefly dive into the fascinating world of Greek mythology to get some additional background information.
Continue Reading…