One of the hardest things we are ever asked to do in this life is to wait.
We ‘practice’ patience.
We ‘lose’ patience.
We are ‘im’patient.
But we very rarely embrace patience.
The pregnant pause between our present and desired future outcome, patience takes us out of a place of reactive fear and into a place of reflective surrender.
It takes us out of our ego and into our heart.
It challenges us to delay our impulsive need for instant gratification in order that we might grow wiser, stronger and more committed through the process; for the best measure of our commitment to any cause is not found in the immediacy of an answer, but in our willingness to embrace patience, even as we continue to push forward with our dreams.
Patience, in that way, is not a passive way of being, but an active way of seeing.
It is the art of stillness and of listening, creating spaces for our heart and soul to speak, while inviting the Universe to participate in the process.
Patience empowers others and challenges us to detach from ego-based outcomes, reminding us that we are not ‘I’, but ‘One’.
It is the still, small voice that whispers in our ears “It’s okay. Everything is going to turn out just fine. Just wait and you will see…”
I’m curious…
Do you view patience as a gift or an impediment? Do you struggle to practice patience in your own life? Would you rather try to force an outcome or allow the Universe to unfold in its own way and timing? Does your attitude change when patience demands sacrifice in the waiting? Can you recall a time when patience resulted in a better outcome than you could have imagined before?
Photo Credit: Ömer Ünlü http://www.flickr.com/photos/55293400@N07/5527061226/
Sharon E. Reed [Blog] 
I have started meditating daily. Being more mindful has helped me be more patient with things I can’t control. While I “practice” patience – I remain active. Just sitting and waiting is not good for me and just busy work but focused and targeted.
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Lorin, I love your thoughts on mindful meditation as an excellent way to ‘practice’ patience, while still remaining active. I find yoga to be extremely beneficial as well. It enables me to stay strong in my core, while practicing centered stillness.
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