Five Reasons Why Timing Matters in Life

Timing. For many of us, it’s a dreaded word. As people, we often know what we want and that we want it now. And if we don’t know what we want, we want to find what that is now. Like it or not, timing is a universal substance that affects all of our lives in many different ways. At certain points in each of our lives, we get stung by it one way or another – professionally, romantically, etc. The reality is, we can’t rush into something we aren’t ready for. If we do, that is often met with failure. But that failure isn’t final, it’s merely an indication we are not ready yet, but it doesn’t mean we never will be.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve likely been super frustrated by timing at least a time or two. Interestingly, I’ve found that my seasons of wait have typically been my greatest seasons of growth. So, though it is never the best feeling at the time we are forced into waiting, the magic behind timing often ushers in something even better than we had initially hoped for. Today I’ll be going over five reasons why timing matters in our lives.

Some Things We Learn

1. We are searching for the wrong thing at first.

I’ll start this one with an amusing thought. When I was in middle school, I had a crush on a cute boy in my class. I was convinced we would end up together and even imagined his last name as mine as I practiced scribbling it into a notebook (cheesy, I know!). Spoiler alert, we did not end up together. But for good reason. He was a great guy, but as I grew older and understood myself and life a bit better, it quickly became clear he wouldn’t be my person. I wouldn’t find that guy who was my person until many, many years later. You see, sometimes in life we are so sure of what we want, but in reality, we really aren’t. It’s only what we think we want, but not what we actually want in the long-term. And that’s not our fault. We simply don’t know any better. So though we may be searching for the wrong things at first, timing often brings that to light so we realize it before it’s too late.

2. Timing really matters.  

Timing is a make-it or break-it factor. For example, the best joke in the world that is told with poor timing will fall flat. A salesperson attempting to close the deal with improper timing will lose the sale. An ill-timed proposal will lead to a crushing heartbreak. Like it or not, timing matters. What will succeed in one moment will not in the next. This is why it cannot be ignored. Leo Tolstoy once said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” If you learn how to navigate the delicate balance of timing, you’ll certainly come out ahead stronger for it.

3. Sometimes things just don’t work out.

According to the entrepreneurial wizard Bill Gross, timing in business startups accounts for 42% of the difference between success and failure. What that means is even with the right idea, the right business model, the right talent, etc. an excellent idea still has a decent chance of failing. While that is sobering to think about, it’s also inspiring. It turns out just because something doesn’t work out now, that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea or that it won’t work next time around. For more about why, you should check out my blog post Seven Reasons Why Failure is a Good Thing.

And as you know or will find out, I’m not one to candy-coat things. Sometimes things that could (or even should) work out just don’t, simply because of timing. It’s a harsh fact and not the most fun thing to think about, but I believe it’s an important lesson in the path of adulthood. Lisa Kleypas once said, “Sometimes life has a cruel sense of humor, giving you the thing you always wanted at the worst time possible.” What matters here is that when something doesn’t work out as we’d hoped, we can still always grow through what we go through and move on to whatever comes next.

4. We simply aren’t ready for it.

I know, I know. Patience is tough. In a world that is increasingly fast-paced and with instant gratification, it’s not a stretch to imagine this issue is going to only get more difficult with time. But sometimes we just aren’t ready. As Brad Meltzer said, “Remember, just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s impossible.” Once we are ready and the timing is right… it will happen. But no, I can’t tell you when, because I have no idea.

5. We aren’t thinking big enough.

This is actually a pretty cool one to think about. As Daymond John once said, “It takes the same energy to think small as it does to think big. So dream big and think bigger.” I have experienced this, so I know it to be true. There’s been quite a few things in my life I was so sure that I wanted, so when it didn’t pan out, I was super disappointed. Fast-forward a few months (or sometimes years) later and something far better than I had hoped for presented itself and essentially fell into my lap. Yes, I still had to earn it, as we always do. But sometimes hard work mixed with a couple spoonfuls of luck and the right timing is what it takes to get the job done. My point with this is that if you feel like you’re beating your head against a brick wall with whatever you are currently chasing, perhaps you’re simply not thinking big enough? Next time, give that some thoughtful consideration and see where it takes you.

Embrace Life’s Timing

Since I’ve been a child, I’ve had a healthy obsession with the Ecclesiastes 3 quote about how there is a time for everything, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.” During our time traversing this earth, we will all experience a multitude of seasons. Some will be sweet, others bitter. But all those seasons all serve a grand purpose to shape us into the people that we eventually become. This is why although I won’t always necessarily agree with or be happy with life’s timing, I’ll always go with it. After all, the adventure we each will find along the way is simply too grand to not experience and find out where it takes us.

Questions, comments, or just need to chat? Send me a direct message via LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

Cheers until next time,

Crystal