Hello everyone!
How are you all?
This week’s topic is patience. Why? Because I am not patient at all and I need to learn and I am, so I want to share my thoughts.
I am naturally kind of impulsive and impatient. I want things to be done right away, even though they might need time. Sometimes, you need to let things grow in you because that is how they naturally mature. But to me, that is a hard pill to take. Why wait, right? For example, research needs time to develop; you cannot rush it. A few years ago, I wanted to rush it because I wanted it to be done already. What happened? Well, it still got done in its due time and my only gain was the stress I caused myself. Likewise, I am very keen on personal development, learning from experiences, improving based on this learning etc. But I also want this to be done fast. It is like, ‘Ok, now I know my weakness and what I need to do; I should feel great already!’. But no, making these changes also needs time and they will happen in their due time no matter what we do.
So what do I do to deal with this situation? At first, I usually resist, although I often understand what I need to improve. Then, I accept that I need to improve it with active work and start improving, but when this happens, I expect the situation to be resolved already. Hey, why wait, if I accepted already, right? But no, often the situation improves very slowly until I also accept that it will take time. Only then things get resolved.
Now, I know this process because I have been in it many many times. But does my reaction change with new situations? Nope. Not yet.
What I want to learn is to accept that things take time from the beginning. Hopefully, one day.
How about you? How are you with patience? How do you react to situations like the ones above or others you might share? Let’s discuss patience today.
Oh, I relate to this. I’m impatient as well, and like you, I don’t love that personal quality. I’m worse with stress and fatigue. It also isn’t good with perfectionism, since impatience often reduces the quality of the finished product. I find I’m better when I regularly practice meditation.
We sound like we are the same person:)
I already wrote books when I was studying to become a caregiver. Because of my studies I couldn’t publish any books. And then Corona came, which made publishing impossible. I hope this will change soon. I hope I won’t be tempted to rush things since I read in your blog post that that is not the right way to go.
It is always better to be patient than rush (but maybe not too patient that you miss the right time). Maybe planning things out overtly (maybe write somewhere) can help?
Lovely post! I am not necessarily impatient, however, I am task driven so I definitely like to finish things. What I have been learning recently (as an over 50 woman) is to simply enjoy the journey! As your post recognized, the journey is part of the process of our growth. Best Wishes!
Sometimes, the idea of finishing the task can take over. If you are able to overcome that, so good for you!
I have suffered from impatience all my life and can definitely relate to what you are saying here. Recently I have found solace in reading The Bhagavad Gita and trying to live a more introspective life. Enjoying what I do, instead of focusing on getting it done prim and proper. I have observed that things find a way of falling into place. I am sharing an approximate English translation of two lines from The Gita that kind of helped me :
” The non-permanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed. ”
” It is nature that cause all movement. Deluded by the ego, the fool harbors the perceptin that says ‘I did it’.”
perception*
Nicely explained.
I have observed that things find a way of falling into place.
I love this! So true, but difficult to wait for for an impatient person:( But that is what puts us into flow.
Love the quote too!
Always found patience to be a game saver in many situations. Be it personal or professional. But I agree with you that practicing the virtue is a challenge in itself. Yoga has been an effective mode to control the impulses, as you call it. Yoga lets one be in more control of emotions and there by makes one more patient.
I have not tried yoga for this purpose but it is a good suggestion! In fact, i haven’t tried it because it is too slow for me:( Talk about avoiding a solution for the problem
Haha
Alright, i am patient with things goes around. I always wait for the right time and situation, i try to keep me calm whenever i face many failures. It is normal to loose patience but than a quote ” Loose patience means, loose war” reminds me to stay calm and focus on my goal.
Thankyou
That is awesome! I wish I had some of that.
Impatience relates to immediate gratification. It is a hard thing to fight and is a very actual topic in this digital age.
I agree. We are increasingly becoming more impatient because we are used to getting things quickly.
I relate to this because I too feel the rush to complete something that’s new to me. I usually attach rewards to certain activities, that helps me come up with the best outcome. Basically manifestation helps me get through it.
Hmm, that is a good point! I should try this!
So funny that you posted this. The topic of patience has been coming up a lot lately. I just finished a bible study on it. I also am not patient at all and want to get things done and feel great, but the only thing I experience is stress and overwhelm during the process. For example, right now I am 35 weeks pregnant and I know the baby can come any day and it drives me crazy to wait without knowing when exactly she will decide to come into this world. I am learning how to let this go and I am aware that the only thing I can control is my day to day operations: self-care, good nutrition, exercise and so on, in addition to getting rest and not to put too many things to do on my plate, but I am definitely work in progress. That’s why they say patience is a virtue.
I think this explains it well. Impatience arises from wanting to control the consequences. Indeed, we are work in progress. For me, focusing on my breath and meditating also helps me to be calm and patient.
I feel you! The baby will come in the best time for her, but I can imagine myself feeling the way you do about it.
Patience is a virtue that comes naturally to some and with work to others. I am in the others.
Reblogged this on To Write or not to Write and What to Write.
Very much on my wavelength, though I wish it wasn’t! Sometimes it does feel like a bit of an affront that we do the research and have the knowledge on what changes to make and how to make them but that that alone doesn’t actually do anything for you.
You mean sometimes you know what to do and when to do it but you still rush it?
Still want it to be a quick result even though it’s impossible as habits take time to form.
True. Same
I have found that prayer really helps me to be more patient. If I have to wait in line or at a stoplight, I just say some prayers (the Rosary works well for this!) and then I’ve used some time that would have been wasted for good.
I do that often too. It does help.
There are a lot of thoughtful comments on this post. People have explained really well. I think that when we achieve success, that joy is momentary. Unless we enjoy the journey, we will always be impatient for that taste of success and eventually that becomes our addiction. I am also learning to enjoy whatever journeys I take.
Good point! This requires being able to wait for the nigger reward at the end.
Ahh well! It actually is not waiting for any reward. It is basically enjoying whatever you do without thinking that you are doing to “get” something.
going**
Well, good point again!
super relatable and I love the way the “argument” progressed! Fun read!
Thanks!
Well said.
On the whole I am patient. But I find my patience depends on the task at hand or in a given situation. For example:
I have lot of patience for teaching the same concept many times in different ways until the learner understands it. Yet, I have no patience when driving!
I have inexhaustible patience with children with special needs but not at all with learning technology.
I think this quote is apt :
“Patience is not simply the ability to wait, it’s how we behave while we wait.”
Joyce Meyer
That is an interesting pattern too!
Also, the quote is striking! Like they say, it is not time that heals, it is what you do with that time.
Sometimes, you need to let things grow in you because that is how they naturally mature.
Absolutely the truth
Yes, truth. I hope to live by it.
This post made me realized that I am too is not patient. That is the main reason why I had anxieties. I also learned how to meditate to control my being impatient.
Meditation helps. Yes, anxiety is a side-effect of worry and impatience. We will be working on it.
I’ve learnt to be patient and I’ve had a lot of time in which to do that. After a certain point, if you consciously try to be that, it just becomes natural to you. That you’re already conscious of your own impatience and are working to gaining patience is a huge leap towards that.
I am waiting for the time it will be part of my nature.