Hey there Occulties,
I know I've gone over the concept of what I somewhat humorously refer to as a "death clock" in here before, but I think, judging from my inbox, it's time to go over this concept again.
My long-time readers understand that the law of attraction is not that silly bullshit in that horrible book (a title like many others of it's kind,) called The Secret, but rather is a huge, gigantic collection of laws (much like physics). Part of this is that all thoughts and emotions have energy, and whether or not it feels or sounds nice and cheery and hopeful to you (or is one or all of those three) that this energy can be attractive or repulsive (as in to push away,) it can be stagnant (causing no change, keeping something put), or expansive (creating change, keeping something unstable) – all of this is possible. Now, I don't want to discuss the laws of attraction (not at all) but to help teach you about a death clock, I do need to touch on it as I just have.
So, let's say you decide that if you do not have x outcome by a specific date, you shall never have whatever this is. I would bet you $20 if you were spellcasting for this thing, that you very likely will not have x outcome on that date. I recently had 3 different clients tell me they had the desired outcome for their case 2 days, 4 days, and 6 days later than expected. This was all in the last week I've heard this. Now, I'm speculating (as none of them were really filthy sick with lust for results, which is the main cause of spell failure) but I'm assuming each person was pushing for that date as meaning if x outcome didn't happen then, it likely would mean it would not happen, and the moment that day passed and they let go (rather than getting more weepy and frustrated and angry, which is the go to reaction for the lust-for-results crowd) and tried to get on with their lives, and BOOM, the desired outcome manifested.
But why does this happen? Well, as is my best understanding, the anxiety surrounding this specific date is part of the problem. You're pushing the desired outcome off with your attachment and emotional energy. It is a form of lust for results. Depending on your natural disposition, this might not mean you're foaming at the mouth and freaking out every day and getting yourself even more anxious as the date approaches, but it can mean you're still building some anxiety or expectation which can push off a desired result. (Yes, definitely some people are wired and angry and working themselves into a panic as each day passes – believe me, it's a bit too common to say that is a small group or that I'm exaggerating that it happens.) However, if you're fixed on the idea that a specific date is the cut off for results to happen, even if you're cool, calm, collected – it's going to build a bit of subconscious energy to this end. This energy pushes off the desired result.
Also, realize those with a "death clock" are repetitively telling themselves "The spell fails on (date,)" which is basically drawing failure to them and/or their spell. 😛 So….OK, pushing off the desired result, while basically asking to have a spell fail on a particular date? That's not really going to help your manifestation. 😉 Spells certainly have a life-span (in my opinion,) but rare is it (if ever) that it's going to be exactly 21 days to the day you spoke the last word of that chant. Hell, I've known people to get results months after they did the work, often because they didn't let go of the situation and it slowed manifestation. 
What can you do? First, realize that ANY time frame is, generally speaking, a ballpark figure. While I can reasonable assume anyone who tells me 10 minutes after the clock changes to this ballpark figure (say 21 days to the minute or something,) that the spell has failed is filthy sick with lust for results, it's not uncommon for a neophyte spellcaster or someone new to spells to believe that the date given is an expiration date. Whatever outcome you're working towards could be even a week or two behind or ahead of schedule, and the manifestation figure given is nothing more than an estimation. The spell isn't a coach turning into a pumpkin at midnight like in Cinderella. Second, LET GO of the situation. Put it out of your mind. Get on with your life. Spells manifest much faster when you stop holding on to the situation with a death grip. You will still want whatever outcome it is even if you're not constantly worrying and thinking on the situation throughout the manifestation process.
Hopefully this made sense, and I've not confused some people more. 😉
~Cat
Cat’s Rants: Confessions of an Occult Mastermind 