It’s no secret to those who know me that patience, while it may be a virtue, is a virtue I have yet to learn to obtain.
I can’t help it. I’m a naturally emotional and passionate person who — sorry ‘bout it — gets frustrated super easily. Mostly because I am afraid of being stagnant.
Also because movement, both physical and metaphorical, is what propels people forward in life. Right?
Impatience is often seen as an impulsive, borderline anger issue characteristic in adults.
When we were little, patience meant waiting your turn for the ball. Now, patience has become an extension of love, and is a hallowed character trait.
So what is impatience in adults? For me, it is an outward expression of immediate emotions before I have the time to capably process them.
While it’s not necessarily negative, it is a bad habit that I must learn to control in some situations.
Here is the loving, patient advice I have received from those in my life who are capable of dealing with me and my never-ending impatience and frustrations.
Breathe.
Literally. Take a breath.
No wonder I have asthma when my first reaction to hearing something remotely stressful or nerve wracking is taking a large sharp inhale resulting in the failure to exhale.
Inhaling and exhaling in a slow but rhythmic effort does wonders for the mind, body and soul. So I’m told.
I should probably take up yoga so I can learn how to efficiently do the most basic human task in existence.
Be slow to speak.
“What?”
“Seriously?”
“Are you kidding me?”
Those are usually my first thoughts when I’m caught off-guard in a high-stress situation, and they typically end up not being just thoughts, but the cursed verbal calamities I express (on accident) when in disbelief.
Followed by a dramatically unnecessary eye roll, I end up digging myself into a deeper hole with not only verbal but physical disagreement and frustration.
If I only took a second to build a bridge between my thoughts and my words instead of firing them out like a cannon, I would be able to process my immediate feelings in a way that allows for a professional and calm response.
Even if I do curb my tongue, beware of the stare.
Just kidding. I’m working on it.
The work will get done.
As the respected Dragon Lady from the "Devil Wears Prada," Miranda Priestly, once said, “By all means, move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me.”
Yes. I procrastinate, but when I’m at work, nothing drives me up the wall more than seeing others work slowly.
I have always prided myself in my ability to crank out work under a tight deadline, which is probably why I work in print media.
Who can actually get stuff done without a fervent fire of impending doom and deadlines blazing behind them?
Apparently some people. It has been a constant struggle to remember that everyone is different, and while I stress about everyone turning their work in, I am exerting unnecessary frustration that could be more effectively focused on, I don’t know, anything else.
The work will always get done. Even if I’m not biting my nails in nervous anticipation and unneeded stress.
If you’re anything like me, you probably skimmed through the bold lettered lines, immediately thought “OK, but this won’t work for me,” and moved to the bottom to see what last minute advice I can offer.
From one impatient person to the next, keep moving. Keep seeking answers. Don’t settle for being pushed into place because others see you as high strung or negative.
Just remember, patience is a virtue. Some of us just have to work harder for it then others. But that by no means takes away the fiery passion we emotional folk have a hard time hiding.
