We all want it.
We all like it when we see it.
Patience.
It’s a great character trait to develop. Takes time and energy but the rewards are great.
We’ve all seen the flip side. You know, the driver who is in a hurry and is going crazy on your back fender? Or the person waiting in line who is showing her agitation to everyone around? I think we would all agree that this behavior usually just makes a situation worse.
What is impatience, really? Frustration. Anger. Self-indulgence. Not exactly words you want describing yourself!
Patience, on the other hand, shows tolerance, emotional control and real wisdom. A better description of how we want to be seen, don’t you think?
Sometimes it may seem as if the patient person just has an innate calmness. Maybe something they were just born with. Maybe a few folks are like that but I think patience is cultivated. Practice makes perfect.
“Patience is also a form of action.” – Auguste Rodin
Is that statement surprising? Patience is action? It really is. The patient person is waiting, watching, and noticing. Refusing to give in to combative emotions. Now that takes time to develop. And time well spent.
The fact is, we are never really in control of situations anyway. That’s the job of the universe. Whether we like it or not. So being impatient isn’t going to bring back control, because we never had it in the first place!
Enjoy your life. And practice patience. It really is a virtue!
Peace,
-Martha
