Chronos vs Kairos Time

Make Time For What Matters Most During The Holidays

December 11, 2015

During a recent coaching session, one of my clients confessed to feeling so overwhelmed by everything on her plate.

The roles of being a mother, wife, friend, and volunteer were taking so much of her time. There were too many projects to complete, a household to manage, and a deep desire to follow her own passions and claim time for self-care.

"There's not enough time in the day, Aurora. I just can't do it all!

At that moment the concept of "kairos" popped up in my mind.

Chronos and Kairos: Ancient Greek Gods of Time

The ancient Greeks had 2 words for time, "chronos" and "kairos". Chronus is what we are most familiar with...chronological and sequential time. Our clocks and watches are based on the quantitative time of chronos.

Kairos, however, is qualitative. It's when we are fully immersed in the present moment; it's the calm in the eye of the storm; it's what is REAL and has a transcendent, even sacred nature.

I love Sarah Ban Breathnach's description:

"Chronos is clocks, deadlines, watches, calendars, agendas, planners, schedules, beepers. Chronos is time at her worst. Chronos keeps track. ...Chronos is the world's time. Kairos is transcendence, infinity, reverence, joy, passion, love, the Sacred. Kairos is intimacy with the Real. Kairos is time at her best. ...Kairos is Spirit's time. We exist in chronos. We long for kairos. That's our duality. Chronos requires speed so that it won't be wasted. Kairos requires space so that it might be savored. We do in chronos. In kairos we're allowed to be ... It takes only a moment to cross over from chronos into kairos, but it does take a moment. All that kairos asks is our willingness to stop running long enough to hear the music of the spheres."

In Greek mythology, both Chronos and Kairos are gods with wings reminding us that "time flies". They were often portrayed with long hair growing on their faces, but with bald heads. It was said that if you saw Kairos coming toward you, you could grab him by the hair as he came closer, but once he moved passed you, there was nothing to grab since his head was bare. A missed "opportune" moment.

This is the lesson of Kairos. It is the time of possibility, of opportunity, of grasping the supreme moment where our greatest growth occurs.

3 Steps To Make Time for What Matters Most During the Holidays

At this time of year we feel the tension between chronos and kairos at its peak. There is so much to do, and yet we long for space to be connected in joy and appreciation with those we love.

To help you do just that, here are 3 easy steps to show you how to grab Kairos by the hair and capture supreme moments during the holidays:

1. Set an intention of who you want to BE each morning.

Your to-do-list keeps you mindful of what needs to get done. However, what reminds you of who you want to be? Start each day with an intention of who you want to be. Use an "I am" statement such as "I am joy", "I am fun", "I am love". These are qualities of your essence and are always available to you. Use this as a mantra and touchstone during the day to remind you of how you want to show up.

2. Capture "Kodak moments" during the day

The Kodak commercial from the 70's left a lasting impression on me and since childhood I've been practicing capturing "the times of my life" by stopping and saying "Now, this is a Kodak moment!"

Now I realize this is really just capturing "kairos moments". They don't have to be big events like moving to a new house, having a baby or graduating high school. Kodak/Kairos moments can be captured at any time. Here a a few examples:

When you are getting the kids ready for school, take a moment to give them a big hug and plant this memory in your heart. Remember how they smell...how far you can wrap your arms around their big or little bodies...how they giggle or maybe wake up in a bad mood.

When you are out with a friend, take time to zoom back and imagine this as a Kodak moment. Take in the environment, the colors, the scents, the atmosphere, your friend's laughter. Notice how you feel and what your friendship means to you.

When you are busy rushing around buying gifts and standing at the check out counter, look at the gifts and imagine the delight the receiver will have upon opening them. As you pay for them, bless the money being exchanged and whisper a prayer of gratitude that you have the means to delight others with gifts.

3. Reflecting and celebrating how you showed up as who you want to BE

End the day with this simple practice which you can do while laying in bed at night. Better yet, if you have a partner, an accountability buddy, or coach tell or text them about the "Kodak moments" you captured. Doing this is also a way to build up your "happiness reservoir" through reminiscing on positive moments. And by celebrating your success, you'll call in more of it for the next day!

During this busy holiday season, may these tips help you capture your "Kodak/Kairos" moments so you'll have an album of beautiful moments to celebrate.

I'd also love to hear about the moments you've captured, so feel free to share in the comments below...