I have always prided myself in being patient. In recent years, however, I have realized that there is a line where patience is no longer a positive attribute. That point is known as complacency.
Patience is not getting upset with those around you when they are trying their best. Patience is giving someone extra time to accomplish something, knowing that everyone works at their own pace. Patience is making the active decision to chose happiness over immediacy. Patience is letting life happen at it’s own pace, and not getting discouraged when your plan or your timing didn’t play out perfectly.
Patience is not sitting and waiting for someone to treat you like you deserve to be treated. Patience is not giving people endless chances when it’s affecting your health. Patience is not being miserable at the expense of others. Patience is not waiting for life to by chance open a new door for you to pass through.
Complacency is not caring how you are treated by others, thinking that it's good enough. Complacency is not feeling the need to stand up for yourself because it would take more effort than it's worth. Complacency is letting life step on you and being truly convinced that it's fine. Complacency is the idea that who you are on any given day is good enough. And complacency is the idea that time is a non-issue, so there's no point in struggling over the details in life.
Perhaps, you can see how this becomes a slippery slope. Every strength can be a downfall when it is taken to extremes. I challenge you to find yours and not let it control your life. Do not be the one who is understanding when someone is five minutes late, and understanding when you get stood up. Do not be the one who will accept a friends apology, but also accept the apologies of people who use your feelings as a punching bag. Do not be the one who is waiting for a good job, but also the person who refuses to apply to any other places in the meantime.
Be active in your pursuit of life. Constantly want to be checking in on people and projects and desires and see how they're coming along. Pride is an issue, and I have a hard time checking in on progress. I find myself being the type of person to stand at a Starbucks for an hour, patiently awaiting my order, instead of five minutes in just asking how it was coming. If five minutes in I would have asked, I would have found out that they got busy and forgot my order.
A simple analogy that explains why patience is dangerous when put too far. Be kind to your baristas, but everyone forgets sometimes.
