Category Archives: Patience

“Patience is the ballast of the soul, that will keep it from rolling and tumbling in the greatest storms.”

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“Patience is the ballast of the soul, that will keep it from rolling and tumbling in the greatest storms.”

– Charles Hopkins, Irish poet and dramatist

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Photo from Flickr by Mary Harrsch

I went grocery shopping with my dad Sunday morning. The store was packed with shoppers. We chose the shortest checkout line, with the intention of making a quick exit. Our strategy was thwarted by the very nice lady ahead of us, who had about 50 small items in her cart, one of which required a price check that took what felt like a century to complete.

Fortunately, dad and I knew this experience was simply an exercise in patience. We took it in stride, smiled at one another, and were amused in watching others work through their issues with the delay.

EXERCISE:

Where would demonstrating greater patience help you sail through the big and little storms of your soul, to enhance your personal or professional life today?

“Flowers only bloom when they are ready. People are the same way. You cannot rush or force them to open just because you think it’s time. Be patient.”

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“Flowers only bloom when they are ready. People are the same way. You cannot rush or force them to open just because you think it’s time. Be patient.”

– Timber Hawkeye, author of Buddhist Bootcamp

511Image from Flickr by icathing

It’s early spring in Michigan and the entire state is breathing a collective sigh of relief, knowing that winter is over and the better weather is ahead. Although the snow has melted and we are experiencing a few April showers, we still have not seen the bloom we so joyfully anticipate.

Just as the Earth circles the sun over a 365 day cycle, we all need to take things in their own timeframes to practice greater patience with numerous aspects of life.

Exercise:

Where would exercising greater patience and not forcing or rushing matters make the biggest difference in your personal or professional life?

Wait for the answer

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“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.”

– William S. Burroughs, American writer

468Image from Flickr by anieto2k.

One of my favorite phrases about coaching is “coaches let their questions do the heavy lifting.” If this is true – and I assert that it is – then we can all coach others, be coached by others, and even coach ourselves. We need only ask the right questions, then relax as our answers reveal themselves.

It is through this personal inquiry that our question-answering muscles do the work and allow us to grow and evolve.

Exercise:

What one or two important questions do you need to ask and answer for yourself today?

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”

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“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”

– Saadi, medieval Persian poet

Photo by Tyler Milligan on Unsplash

A common characteristic of hard-driving “type A” people is impatience. Often, this quality leads to considerable success. It can, however, also often have a dark side.

I’m currently reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. There’s considerable evidence from her research that introverts often demonstrate greater patience and often greater mastery of tasks that require patience and persistence in practice.

Exercise:

In what areas of your personal and professional life would greater patience support greater success? Watch Cain’s “The Power of Introverts” TED talk or consider reading the book … if you have the patience.