Waiting is extremely difficult, especially when you know something good is sitting just beyond a period of time. Learning how to wait and be patient isn’t just a necessary part of life – it’s an art form within itself!
Waiting can be extremely challenging to master, but once you understand its value and how to engage in it successfully, you can really begin to reap the benefits of understanding the art of patience.
Why do good things come to those who wait?
“Good things come to those who wait” is an old adage often delivered to the impatient who want to speed life along so they can reach a desired end result faster. However, there is a lot of wisdom in this old saying – even if it seems like speeding toward a desired outcome is the best course of action, it is often best to wait and let events progress at a natural speed.
Here’s why:
1. Forcing yourself to move toward something too quickly can lead to missed opportunities along the way.
The journey toward a goal or outcome is often sprinkled with other opportunities to learn and grow. There is a lot of value in making progress – even if the progress is slow! If you decide to rush things along, you could miss out on these other chances to learn.
2. Skipping the “waiting” portion can totally change the end results of your journey.
If you try too hard to rush the process of working toward something you want, you might skew the end results of the journey. Taking your time and waiting patiently for the right time can lead you to exactly what you want, but if you “speed up” the process, you may skip steps or cut corners necessary to get the exact end result you actually want.
If you struggle with being patient, what can you do to learn this skill?
Patience isn’t always easy, especially when you are having to wait on something you really want! However, there are some strategies you can use to instill more patience within yourself.
1. Practice taking a pause before acting on an impulse.
Your impulses may tempt you to jump into an action to speed things along, but practice pausing to weigh your options and outcomes first. This brief waiting period can stop you from making a rash, unplanned, and poorly considered mistake by acting too quickly.
2. Remember the “big why” of what you want to achieve.
Patience can be extra difficult to maintain if you lose focus on your “big why.” Your “big why” is the ultimate reason why you want to achieve or obtain something – it is usually something much deeper than “making more money” or “getting something you always wanted.”
When you feel tempted to try rushing into something, take a minute to reflect on your ultimate “big why” – doing this can help you stay the course and maintain your patience.
3. Keep track of your progress and celebrate your wins.
Find a way to keep track of all the progress you are making while working toward your goal or what you want to achieve. Progress can be extremely slow, but if you make an effort to keep track of it, you can see how far you’ve actually come toward getting what you really want.
Celebrate all your wins along the way, even the small ones. Recognizing your efforts, celebrating your wins, and keeping tabs on the progress you’re making can help reassure you that you’re on the right track and make being patient feel a lot easier.
