Patience is a funny word. It is easy to tell someone to have patience, especially if you are the one making them wait, but it is a lot harder to actually practice it. I don’t know about you, but when people tell me “Have patience,” my initial reaction is always frustration. It is usually a split second subconscious reaction and then I’m able to get it under control with my rational mind, but for that split second, I’m truly irritated.
Why is it that we get frustrated when someone tells us to have patience? Perhaps it’s partially because of our instant gratification society and having everything at the tap of a cell phone screen. Don’t get me wrong. I love technology. In fact, I probably own just about every gizmo you can imagine. But sometimes I think that technology has caused us to become more disconnected and certainly less patient.
There’s something to be said about patience. There’s something to be said about waiting and taking our time to get the things we want. When we wait, we are able to truly mull over the positives and negatives about the thing or things we are waiting for. We are able to truly decide if we want it and if we will use it when we finally get it.
I don’t know about you, but I certainly have a few “impulse buys” that are sitting around collecting dust. But those items that I took the time to research and save up for, even those I bought years ago, I still use and cherish.
The same goes for decisions and commitments we make in our lives. For instance, if you decide you want to lose and weight and just say, “I’m going to lose 10 pounds this week,” there’s not a big chance you’re actually going to stick to it. And worse, you will even discourage yourself for the next time you want to try to lose weight. However, if you take the time to truly weigh the decision, envision what you want, and make a plan of how you’re going to achieve it, you are much more likely to stick with the decision and achieve your goals.
So, let’s stop making “impulse commitments” with ourselves. Instead, let’s have patience and make educated decisions and choices. There is absolute truth to the adage, “Slow and steady wins the race.” So, take your time. I know you will Make It Happen!
Live Life,
Bert Oliva