Do you plant a seed only to dig it up daily seeing if it’s taken root or sprouted? No, you plant a seed and care for it daily by ensuring it’s receiving enough food, water, and sunlight. So rather than killing it with your impatience, you give it the resources it needs to grow to its fullest potential. And soon (soon being a relative term), a big, beautiful bloom better than you could have imagined has grown. But life isn’t always as easy as growing a garden. It’s trying and tests our patience, sometimes daily. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There’s power in being patient. Or so I’m told! I’ve been trying to learn and implement patience, but let’s be real…I’m impatient! Even when it comes to learning to be patient, I’m impatient. I’m the one digging up the seed…
Patience is not a virtue I have. Although I am leaps and bounds better than I used to be, I still think I have none. Which means, I was likely living in the negative before. Eeeks! No one can fault me for not trying though because I certainly do. But the line is thin and still breaks easily. And some areas of my life much thinner than others (put me in traffic for any length of time and you’ll see exactly what I mean).
Patience is the act of waiting for something or someone and how you compose yourself while waiting. Remaining calm of course is always the better option, but often the hardest. Your ability to accept or tolerate delays or situations without getting upset or angry. This doesn’t mean you have to like what is occurring, it means you’re composed while it is happening and you’re waiting or dealing with the situation or person.
The Webster definition states the essential meaning of patience is: 1) the ability to wait for a long time without becoming annoyed or upset; 2) the ability to remain calm and not become annoyed when dealing with problems or difficult people; 3) the ability to give attention to something for a long time without becoming bored or losing interest. Practicing any of the above is not easy. But if you want something bad enough, you’ll be willing to endure the wait. At times you may become annoyed or upset, but having faith in the end result, that everything will work out, will pull you though those moments of frustration or doubt. Because you know, you could never get bored or lose interest in that one thing you desire more than anything. And just when you feel like giving up because your patience has run out, wait a little longer. You never know what the next moment may bring. These are the thoughts I often remind myself of when I am feeling impatient and want to “dig up my seeds.”
Patience comes into play when facing the decision to choose between what you want now and what you want most. It’s choosing between a slice of cake or the whole damn thing. And believe me, I know what I want…so…bring me the BIG plate! I’m waiting for the whole cake.
There is no need to live stressed out or hurried. Somethings take time. And waiting for what you truly desire will always be worth the wait. For one area of my life that I have learned to practice patience, I was recently rewarded in a big way (even better than receiving a whole cake). Every minute of the wait was worth it. My greatest dream realized. It was proof my greatest desires are being worked while I wait, and I don’t need to “dig them up” to check their growth.
As much as patience is a virtue that everyone should try to learn and practice, there are times when there is no point to waiting. When something is not to your highest good, then why be patient? Cut the ties, end the contract, and walk away. If it is no longer serving you then what is the point of waiting for it when the reality is, you don’t want it anyways. Doesn’t have to be full of drama or drawn out, just simply say, “Thanks, but No Thanks” and walk away. Don’t allow your patience to be mistaken for being a push-over or pining for something that isn’t meant for you.
Patience is likely not feasible in every area of one’s life, but for those situations and people that matter most, patience can be practiced indefinitely. Remain calm and composed. All good things come to those that wait (and wait…).
Real Life Talk 