Time Coefficient

The Time Coefficient is sort of an addendum to the Circles of Health & Happiness Theory and The Gradient Theory.

The Time Coefficient explains overall expansion and contraction of individual circles as well as the circle structure as a whole.  It is a relatively simple proposition:

When more time is spent attending to one Circle over another, that Circle expands while the other contracts.  This will invariably create an imbalance in the Gradient Theory and an imbalance in the individual as a whole.

Imbalance, if you'll recall, is the trigger for unhealthiness and unhappiness.

A person too driven socially, or spiritually, for instance, will likely find themselves unhappy physically, emotionally, or materially.

It is also possible to commit an overwhelming amount of time seeking balance in your circles while not spending enough time allowing the circles to balance themselves.  Although the universe is in constant flux, it is also in constant balance in that while one portion of existence is in turmoil, another portion is in eminent peace.  Therefore, an individual's health and happiness will seek balance - scientifically called homeostasis - when left to the natural order of the universe.  Although it will be thrown positively or negatively at times, it will always seek homeostasis.

Actively pursuing homeostasis has a tendency to brighten, but shorten life.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  Most often people who are "larger than life" accomplish a lot in the short time they are given.

In contrast, some people spend very little time in the pursuit of personal advancement and they end up not "kicking up much dust".  This typically results in a relatively unremarkable yet stable life in longevity terms.

Certainly there is cross-over in that over-active people may settle down and under-active people may pick up the pace to become more active members of society thus the aggregate time expenditure is similar as is the life expectancy.

Remember, however, that in order for these hyper-active or overly-passive paths to be achieved, either person must live balanced with their time and this is frequently not the case for someone we would describe as "hyper-active" or "overly-passive".