All my life I have known that one major life lesson I need to learn in order to be successful and happy, is patience. I’m not talking, stuck in traffic, standing in long lines kind of patience, but rather patience for allowing things to fall into place in life. I find myself dreaming big, bold, beautifully extravagant dreams, filling my soul with excitement and then almost immediately tapping my foot with impatience because I want it now.
Over the years I have learned that instant gratification isn’t always best, and many times patience gives space for proper planning and execution, especially when it involves financial risks, business decisions, or putting yourself in the best situation to succeed. Beyond that I know (much to my chagrin) that to do things right it takes time.
I know, I know…Rome wasn’t built in a day, human beings have a gestation period of 9 months etc., but when I have these big ideas and my creativity is flowing, I feel the need to act, and act now. But try as I might to make things happen, they don’t always and I often find myself feeling stuck and discouraged, wondering why/how/when will it all work out???
I have found my impatience tends to bleed over into my personal life as well. I found recently it has come when my main focus is on a future event or moment as opposed to being fully mindful of what I am doing in the now. Not only am I not being effective in the moment, but I am no closer to the future because all I have is now. If I am constantly worried with the future, how can I ever tend to the moment and give it all that it deserves in order to make it to the future?
Eureka!
Every moment I see my dreams as yet to be attained instead of being in the process of being achieved, I am discrediting everything I am doing now. I am losing precious time right now. Time that allows me to experience this wonderful adventure that helps me to grow and evolve into a better me, and who knows maybe a better end result for my dreams.
So the next time I wonder how I can be more patient, I will remember this… Patience takes practice and in my case…lots of it!