It always seems that we are running late, or running out of time or have ran out of time to do something we wanted so much to do. Is the time we have, not really enough? Or have we given it so much power to control our lives?

Growing up we constantly hear our parents reminding us to be on time,  to find time, to make time, not to waste time, that time is money, that time is brief. Now, as an adult, I look at time differently. Time is supposed to give us freedom to live, to enjoy the moments of simply being alive and to use it wisely to see the beauty around us.

When time controls you, you are in for lifetime bondage, so to speak. Life becomes constrained and restrictive as you feel that you must do this or do that within a given frame of time. You become so programmed to time that you feel guilty to use some of it for ‘any spur of the moment’ activity. The hands of time have taken over your life.  And when that happens, nothing else seems more important to you than being right on the target for each planned activity.

So what is wrong with this scenario? Well, you could lose your sense of freedom to be carefree and to give yourself a spontaneous sense of excitement from certain twist of events. In this case, the power of time is robbing you of joyful opportunities to accept changes of plans. Time has become your foe. It has suppressed your right to feel the world in your relationships, in your family, in your friends and in your career. Sadly, the power of time has taken you captive.

But time, if truly understood and respected, could very well be your friend and the cornerstone of your success. In business, it is this common saying that we hear: Delay is the enemy of success. We know that time is a precious commodity that one cannot afford to waste, if a business is to grow in leaps and bounds. Time and timing are essential determining factors to success. The less time wasted the more progress for the company.

But on a personal note, can time really be wasted? What might appear wasting of time for a person could actually be a learning time for another. Time is never wasted when the intention is for a good cause. Any time spent on a noble deed or service is time well spent. And when time allows us to experience the grandeur of life or the silly little things of daily living, the ups and downs of relationships, the jolting surprises of this unsteady yet beautiful world of ours, then we can say that time is on our side. Time becomes our best teacher and ally.

So how should we deal with time? Simple- take it one day at a time, assigning equal portions to sleep, work and pleasure. You will discover that 24 hours is all you really need in one day. It is enough. And when you use it to make the world a much better place to be, then the power of time is working for you!