“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
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— Michael Altshuler
This powerful statement captures a universal truth with stunning simplicity. We all feel the swift, unstoppable passage of time. It can feel like a current pulling us along, regardless of our wishes. Yet, the quote doesn’t leave us in despair. Instead, it hands us the controls, transforming a sense of helplessness into one of profound empowerment. It suggests that while the clock will always tick, the direction of our journey is ultimately up to us.
The Unrelenting Pace of Time
The first half of the quote, “The bad news is time flies,” resonates deeply with almost everyone. Think about how quickly a week, a month, or even a year can pass. We often find ourselves looking back, wondering where the days went. This feeling can create anxiety and a sense of urgency. Important goals may seem to get pushed aside by daily demands. Consequently, we might feel like passive passengers watching life’s scenery blur past our window.
This perception isn’t just a feeling; it’s a common human experience. Psychologists have studied how our perception of time changes as we age. For a child, a summer seems endless. For an adult, seasons can change in the blink of an eye. The routine of adult life can make days blend together, accelerating our sense of time’s passage. This relentless forward motion is the “bad news” because it’s a resource we can never get back. Every moment spent is gone forever, which highlights the importance of how we use it.
Taking Command of the Cockpit
This is where the quote’s brilliant pivot occurs: “The good news is you’re the pilot.” This simple metaphor completely reframes the situation. It shifts the focus from what we cannot control (the speed of time) to what we can (our direction and actions). A pilot doesn’t control the weather or the physics of flight. However, a pilot charts a course, makes decisions, and navigates the aircraft toward a chosen destination. Similarly, you are in command of your own life.
This concept is closely related to the psychological principle of an internal locus of control. People with a strong internal locus of control believe they have the power to influence events and their outcomes. In contrast, those with an external locus of control often feel that outside forces dictate their lives. Research consistently shows that a proactive mindset leads to greater success and personal satisfaction. . Taking the pilot’s seat means making conscious choices instead of letting life just happen to you. Source
How to Be an Effective Pilot for Your Life
Accepting your role as the pilot is the first step. The next is learning how to fly effectively. It involves intentionality, planning, and consistent action. Here are a few practical ways to take the controls:
- Create Your Flight Plan: A pilot never leaves the tarmac without a destination. What is yours? Define your short-term and long-term goals. Write them down. This clarity provides direction and purpose, turning aimless drifting into a focused journey.
- Make Conscious Decisions: Every day presents countless choices. As the pilot, you must decide what gets your attention and energy. Learn to say “no” to distractions that pull you off course. Prioritize tasks that align with your ultimate destination. Each small, deliberate choice is a course correction that keeps you headed in the right direction.
- Navigate Turbulence: No flight is without turbulence. You will face setbacks, challenges, and unexpected obstacles. A good pilot doesn’t panic. Instead, they assess the situation, adjust their strategy, and stay focused on the goal. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities that make you a more skilled navigator of your own life.
Your Journey, Your Destination
Ultimately, Michael Altshuler’s quote is a call to action. It acknowledges the scary reality of finite time but immediately counters it with the inspiring truth of personal agency. Time will indeed fly, but that fact doesn’t have to be a source of fear. Instead, it can be a powerful motivator.
When you see yourself as the pilot, you stop being a victim of circumstance and become the architect of your future. You decide the destination, you navigate the journey, and you own the outcome. The clock is ticking, but you hold the controls. Therefore, the most important question is not how fast time is moving, but where you are choosing to fly.