O common sentence said by Thoreau (which recently I read again in “Wisdom of the peaceful warrior”) is: Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits softly on your shoulder”.
I totally agree with this expression, but I would like to expand it to every aspect of the life. I really think that the word “happiness” in this sentence can be changed for any noun. Therefore, whatever you are waiting for, simply WAIT, it will come to you. BUT you have to be in a place where the “noun” used (the butterfly in the case of the sentence) can fly.
As an example, suppose that you are looking for a girlfriend. Then, do not look for it, only wait, but go to places where you can meet people. The same applies for jobs, money, etc.
My dad used to say that there is time for everything. Maybe he did not know that the time does not exist, but he was right. We are the only “animals” which think in “time” and therefore the ones who create deadlines. The deadlines is an illusion thing created by the mind because life is unpredictable. Only make your first step in whatever you aspire for and let the universe and your karma make the rest.
Many books and principles teach: “being proactive”. As an example, it is the first principle of the Franklin Covey Method. I really believe that it is truth, but as I said, only “being proactive” in the first step, do not suffer for the rest 
