Let’s talk about patience. There are several definitions that can describe patience. To bear any annoyances, pain or misfortune without any complaints, irritations or loss of temper. The ability to overcome your annoyance when you are kept waiting. Having steady perseverance and an even temper. I will come right out and say it, because even though it’s an ongoing process of mine to better my patience, I fail with patience in some aspects of life.
Patience can be hard to come by in the world we live in today. Everything is in such high demand that we must conform to moving quickly, getting the job done as fast as possible, or moving past anyone that is keeping you waiting. This last example may be the biggest of my issues with patience because I cannot stand having to wait around for someone. If a meeting is set, I plan ahead to be at least five minutes early because I understand that both of our times are valuable, and when I am kept waiting without any warning, I tend to get frustrated. I am now trying things in a different perspective because it’s not like we can know exactly what the other party’s situation could be. When emotions such as anger or frustration overcome, then patience retreats.
Not only is everything so demanding these days, but we also have the power of the world’s information right at our fingertips. Anything can be found within mere seconds. We are getting used to getting what we want when we want it, and we tend to want it right now! But great things in life don’t usually come right away, do they? Patience is important in life because, without it, some real negative things can happen. Being impatient can cause you to make the wrong decision and put your life in danger. Impatience can cause high stress and anxiety for no reason at all and can cause quick tempers, irritability and frustration.
Self-control is a major aspect of patience, and that is why it is a virtue in life. Great things do not happen in life without having to take the time. When you step outside of your own wants and needs to be patient with another, you can really strengthen your ability to be compassionate. Patience is a strength that can benefit in each and every area of your life. A great quote from Bruce Lee: “Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.”
When given a choice of reward, would you choose to favor a short-term reward that requires less laboring work or a long-term reward that requires hard work and will be much more rewarding? Patience is studied as a decision-making problem when it comes to psychology, and most animals and humans are more prone to favoring the short-term rewards over the long-term. Despite the fact they understand the long-term rewards are much more bountiful.
In a religious aspect, patience is a prominent theme and considered an essential virtue. There are many great leaders in history who have attested patience will make you tougher and wiser. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you. Then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi.
Tough Things to Talk About is a recurring article for Nonahood News that brings controversial subjects to light. This article is not to shame, blame or toss anyone under the bus, but to express the views of others who might find it tough to talk about. If you have a topic that you would like to express that might be too tough to talk about, reach out to me at kyle@nona.media.
