Why Everything Takes So Bloody Long (And It's Not Because the Universe Hates You)

There's nothing quite as frustrating as feeling like everything in your life is stuck in slow motion when you're desperate for things to move forward. You've done the inner work, you've set clear intentions, taken all the practical steps, and yet that job offer still hasn't come through, that person still hasn't reached out, or those opportunities you've been manifesting seem to be taking forever to show up.

I get it - it's maddening. Especially when you see other people seemingly getting what they want straight away while you're sat there wondering what you're doing wrong or if you've somehow been forgotten by the universe entirely.

I've had so many clients come to me absolutely frustrated about timing, convinced that delays mean they're being punished or that their manifestations aren't working. But here's what I've learned from years of doing readings and watching how things actually unfold - delays almost always serve a purpose, even when we can't see it at the time.

You're Being Protected From the Wrong Thing

One of the biggest reasons things get delayed is because you're being protected from something that looks perfect right now but would actually mess up your path later on. I can't tell you how many times I've seen this in readings.

I had one client who was devastated when she didn't get this job she thought was perfect for her. She was convinced she'd failed somehow. Six months later, that entire company went under and everyone got made redundant. Meanwhile, she'd found something much better that actually used her skills properly.

Sometimes that person who isn't texting you back is saving you from a situation that would have left you heartbroken. Sometimes that flat you didn't get would have had problems you couldn't see. Your guides can see the bigger picture - what looks like a closed door to you might actually be protection from something that would have caused you stress later.

The universe isn't being mean to you by making you wait - it's often steering you away from things that aren't actually in your best interest, even when they seem like exactly what you want.

You're Still Getting Ready

Sometimes delays happen because you're not quite ready for what you're asking for yet. This isn't about worthiness - you deserve good things. It's about being prepared to handle them well when they arrive.

If you're manifesting a committed relationship but you've still got loads of unresolved stuff from your last breakup, the delay gives you time to sort that out. Otherwise you just end up repeating the same patterns with someone new.

I see this with career stuff all the time. Someone wants a promotion or a new job, but they actually need more experience or confidence first. The waiting period is when they build those skills or get that experience that makes them perfect for the role when it does come up.

It's like the universe is giving you time to become the person who can fully receive and appreciate what you're asking for. Getting something too quickly before you're ready often creates more problems than it solves.

Everything Needs to Line Up

Real life is complicated. It's not just about you being ready - other people need to be ready too, circumstances need to align, practical stuff needs to sort itself out. All of this takes time.

If you're meant to be with someone, they might need to finish their own healing journey first, or end their current relationship properly, or even just be in the right headspace. You can't force that timing no matter how ready you feel.

With career stuff, sometimes entire industries need to shift, companies need to restructure, or economic conditions need to change before your opportunity appears. None of that is personal - it's just larger systems doing their thing.

I had a client who kept asking when she'd meet her person. The reading kept showing delays, which frustrated her. Turns out her future partner was going through a massive life change - divorce, career change, therapy - all the things that made him ready for a proper relationship. They met two years later and it was worth the wait, but he had to become the right person for her first.

It Helps You Get Clear on What You Actually Want

Sometimes delays are brilliant for helping you figure out what you genuinely want versus what you think you should want. If you lose interest in something during the waiting period, it probably wasn't right for you anyway.

Real desires that come from your soul tend to get stronger during delays, not weaker. But things you want because of social pressure or because they look good on paper often fade away when you have time to really think about them.

Delays can also help you refine what you're asking for. Maybe you thought you wanted one thing, but the waiting period shows you that you actually want something slightly different that would serve you better.

I've seen people use delay periods to get so much clearer on their desires. Instead of just wanting "a relationship," they figure out they want someone who shares their values and life goals. Instead of just wanting "a new job," they realise they want work that actually means something to them.

Building Your Trust Muscle

Learning to trust divine timing instead of trying to control everything is often a massive part of your spiritual growth. Delays teach you patience and faith, which you'll need for handling whatever you're manifesting.

If you get everything you want immediately, you never develop that trust in the process. But when you learn to stay calm and positive during waiting periods, you build resilience that serves you for life.

I've noticed that people who learn to surrender during delays often become much better at receiving guidance and spotting opportunities. When you're frantically trying to force things, you miss the signs and synchronicities that are trying to help you.

The surrender isn't about giving up - it's about doing your part while trusting that the universe is doing its part too.

Teaching You to Enjoy the Journey

Sometimes delays force you to find happiness and meaning in your current situation instead of always waiting for the next thing to make you happy. This is actually a massive gift, even though it doesn't feel like one.

The personal growth that happens during waiting periods often ends up being more valuable than whatever you thought you were waiting for. You develop patience, gratitude, trust, and the ability to be content regardless of external circumstances.

People who learn to be happy while they're manifesting tend to be much happier once they get what they want too. If you're miserable while you're waiting, you'll probably find things to be miserable about even after you get your desires.

How to Work with Delays Instead of Against Them

Instead of fighting delays or seeing them as failure, try to work with them. Use the waiting time to prepare - do inner work, develop skills, build the foundation for what you want.

Pay attention to what you're learning or experiencing during the delay. Often these lessons become crucial for handling what eventually comes. I can't count how many clients have told me that what they learned during the waiting period was exactly what they needed.

Keep taking practical action where you can, but release the need to control timing. Keep applying for jobs, keep putting yourself out there, keep working on your goals - just without the desperation and attachment to when it has to happen.

Notice what else is developing in your life while you're focused on the thing that's delayed. Often amazing things are happening in other areas that you miss because you're fixated on the one thing that isn't moving.

Trust That There's a Reason

The delays that feel most frustrating often come right before the biggest breakthroughs. I've seen this pattern so many times in readings - someone's at the end of their rope with waiting, and then everything suddenly shifts and they get something even better than what they originally wanted.

Your guides aren't trying to torture you with delays. They're often orchestrating something much more complex and beneficial than you can see from where you are right now. What feels like cosmic indifference is usually cosmic coordination working behind the scenes.

Sometimes the universe's timing really is better than yours, even when you can't understand why everything has to take so long. The delays that annoy you most often turn out to be protecting or preparing you for something brilliant.

So if everything feels stuck right now, try to trust that there's a reason. You're not being punished, you're not doing anything wrong, and you haven't been forgotten. Sometimes things just take exactly as long as they take, and fighting it only makes it harder.

The waiting isn't wasted time - it's preparation time. And sometimes the preparation is just as important as what you're preparing for.