“Let’s be going; time is of the essence!”
I grew up hearing this saying quite often as my parents hurried my siblings and I out the house to some sort of family affair.
More recently, I have come across this saying as a legal concept. I have learnt that in a property contract you may need to serve notice on the other party to make time of the essence. Without taking this action, you limit the remedies available to you if the other party breaches the contract.
Quite similarly, the things that you accomplish in life will be limited if you do not serve notice on time and make it of the essence. Time will not become of the essence by itself. According to Collins Dictionary, “if you say something is of the essence, you mean that it is absolutely necessary in order for a particular action to be successful”.
Time is that “something” and the “action” is life.
To do life successfully, you need to make time of the essence
Time is probably one of the most objective features of life. It doesn’t discriminate – the same amount is given to everyone each day. But how we use that time is what makes it a friend to some and a foe to others.
Nowadays, we waste a lot of time on things that do not really matter: endlessly scrolling on social media, having gossip-filled conversations or maybe it’s worrying about what others think of you. If we realised the essence of time, then what we apply our time to would look quite different.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom
Psalms 90:12 (KJV)
I love the way King David puts it: ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom’. Once you realise that your time on earth is limited, it will change the decisions you make such as who you hang around, the places you go, the way you speak…the list can go on. Time is endless, yet it is limited for each person; we cannot afford to be time wasters.
There is much to be done on the earth and you have a part to play in it. However, those of us who do not use time to our advantage may end up living below our potential. We have all been given various gifts and talents but if we do not use time to build on it, or conversely – engage in things which are damaging to our G&Ts, it will become useless.
Time is malleable. Each day, you can shape it into whatever you want through intentional decisions.
Technically, there is time to do unprofitable things; it’s a choice. One of the most important realisations I’ve had is that time is malleable. Each day, you can shape it into whatever you want through intentional decisions. By shaping time, you are also shaping your life – so, what shape is your life in right now?
Serve notice on time today and make it of the essence. What is something you’ve been putting off? Maybe it’s building on a skill, project or relationship. Whatever it may be, “Let’s be going; time is of the essence!”
Further reading
- The Urgent Life By Bozoma Saint John with Stephanie Ike and Ashlee Eason
- ‘The Wonderful Malleability of Time’, Wanda Waterman
- Bible Gateway, Psalm 90:12
- Redefining Success, ‘No time for trash talk: level up your conversations’
- Redefining Success,‘Your gift is not about you‘
- Redefining Success, ‘Friends can build or break you…choose well‘
Redefining Success 
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