"Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself."
- St. Francis de Sales
Patience is one of those virtues, that when conquered, can make life seem so much more enjoyable. Waiting becomes less of a hassle and more of a slight inconvenience at times. Heavy traffic is no longer frustrating and long delays on shipping are not a big deal. We'll get there when we get there. That item will arrive when it arrives. Being patient requires self-awareness that we are in control of our response to whatever it is that requires our patience. Can we be upset or even angry when we are not seeing results from our personal pursuits as quickly as we would like? We could, but what good does that do?
Whether it's losing weight or starting a new hobby, it takes time to see progress and achieve the results we are looking for. Anything worth having requires investing continuous time and effort toward the pursuit of it. It can be discouraging when we do not see the results we were initially hoping for. When it comes to long term goals, it's helpful to celebrate the small wins and stack them up to achieve the bigger goal we are after. It's those small victories that can motivate us to keep going and be patient with our progress in the meantime.
Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
As I have become a much more patient person, I realize how the more I focus on what's right in front of me, the less I think about what I have not accomplished yet. I understand that we are not promised tomorrow, so I might as well make the most out of today and right now. I learned how to be content with where I am, while having hope for and working toward where I would like to be. This applies to my personal and professional life. Being more mindful in the present, I concern myself less with where I am not yet. That goes for the line at the grocery store and the first day of a new project or partnership.
Being patient is not a fixed trait. Everyone can learn and practice patience, but not everyone achieves it. I still get impatient at times, but I do not allow it to consume me or make me upset. I remind myself that, in due time, I will get to the front of the line. I will finish that project. I will accomplish what I set out to do. In the meantime, I'll do what I can. I can't make the line move any faster. I can't do the work for my new project all at once. So I'll do what I can now, and be patient in the process.
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