Timing is important. It’s a simple phrase, and we all realize it’s true. However, implementing and practically applying this concept can be challenging, especially for those trained to achieve results as quickly as possible.

We constantly swim upstream as though that’s going to improve the circumstances. I know why salmon do it: to ensure they are strong enough to lay eggs for the next generation. In that context, it makes sense to swim upstream and fight the current. It has a purpose, but they still only do it at a specific time for a specific reason. It’s all about the timing.

I look back at some of my recent projects, social media posts, etc., and I think if I had waited until the next morning with a fresh mind, I might not have posted that grammar error or written that sentence in passive form. I may have looked at it again and been clearer. This is a small example, and hindsight is like cheating—it’s always 20/20. However, the lesson is clear: timing is vital to success.

If I’m honest, the universe, my friends, and my spouse have attempted to convey this message for some time, but my focus on achievement made it difficult to see. The thing is, timing is about waiting at the root of it. It’s about listening and being still until the right time. It’s about letting opportunities come to you and jumping when they are available. I’m not a fisherman, but I can imagine those who have mastered this art.

As I think about it, the fish have as well. If you’ve ever watched fish, they appear to be doing nothing most of the time. They float around and watch things. When we see the look fish make on humans, we assume their minds are blank. But what if it’s not? What if the fish are just masters at timing? They wait, listen, and watch until food is available or a predator is in sight, then use the stored energy to seize the opportunity. They don’t make themselves crazy, swimming in circles, desperately looking for scraps; they wait, watch, and listen.

So, why would we take advice from fish as a higher life form? Well, maybe because nature has it figured out. All the cycles fit together perfectly, the creatures live in a symbiotic relationship, and everything seems to work out if we don’t mess with it.

What I’ve been doing isn’t working, so in the interest of happiness. I’m going to try something else. Instead of swimming upstream, maybe I’ll take a lesson from the fish and wait for the perfect timing.