I would have to say that I tend to be an impatient person, but I am constantly working on improving in this area. I am sure everyone who knows me would agree with this point. I prefer acting to waiting. Once I decide on something, I want to move forward and make progress. In addition, I get frustrated with others who don’t operate with the same sense of urgency that I do. I find it astounding how slow and uninspired many people appear to be. However, with time and some maturity, I have begun to realize that the problem isn’t always them, and sometimes it’s me.
If everything is important, then nothing truly is. Living life too intensely can tire you and those around you. Occasionally, you must wait in a checkout line. A few extra minutes of being patient won’t kill you. In addition, most deadlines are self-imposed. As a “Type A” individual, you often subject yourself to excessive and unnecessary stress. You can see this stress physically manifest in people as their agitation grows. I wonder how many heart attacks resulted from minor incidents that were exaggerated.
I’ve always liked the whole “Yin and Yang” concept and the principle of duality. There are two polar opposites to everything and a wide continuum that operates in between them. It can be valuable if you apply it to your behavior or interactions with others. People who are overly aggressive need to balance out those who are more passive. They also need to find the downshift gear in their actions, while others may need to learn to upshift a bit more. There is a time to be patient and a time to be impatient. The key is balancing it all. I have come to believe that when I interact with someone who is overly frustrating, it is meant as a learning opportunity if I am wise enough to seize it.
Life comes down to context and perspective. We are all trying to figure these two things out regularly and constantly bumping into each other in the process. While our experience is subjective, we need to maintain some level of objectivity to make sense of it all. The world doesn’t revolve around you; it just feels that way. Impatient people are that way for a reason, but that doesn’t mean others will share this sense of urgency or should do so. The key is finding common ground and constantly striving for win-win interactions that respect our differences.
You can and should forge ahead confidently and aggressively to pursue your dreams/goals/objectives. Just be prepared to meet some resistance along the way. Pick your battles carefully when this happens. Not every fight is worth fighting. Sometimes the universe is speaking to you and slowing you down on purpose. Too much momentum could take you off a cliff. Your default position cannot always be assertive action. Maybe you need to step back, better understand the dynamics of a situation, think it through, and tread more thoughtfully. It could be that you just need to stop, take a deep breath, and give yourself a minute to reflect, reconsider, and alter your course of action.
Being patient could save your relationships, career, and maybe even your life.
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