patience
Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. Jon Kabat-Zinn
Living in a society where we have near-instant gratification at nearly every turn, experiencing the opportunity to practice patience is not as common as it once was. When we make up our minds to do something, or not to do something, often the decision-making process took so much time that once we’ve made the decision, we are ready for action. But life doesn’t always work that way. Often a prolonged wait follows. Where time slows down, things seem to take longer than we feel that they need to. Where life feels as if it is in a holding pattern. This is when the practice of patience truly becomes a virtue.
To me, patience is akin to non-attachment, also known as the 5th yama - aparigraha. We can practice non-attachment by making a decision, putting the actions in place to reach the desired outcome, and then patiently waiting for the unfolding of the outcome. Whether the outcome does or does not look like our preconceived plan, our job is to trust that all is exactly as it should be. So much easier said than done! So we may have an excruciating time when we wait for the outcome and then must be open to accepting it as presented. Ah, just another test of the human spirit.. especially those times when the outcome is not the one we were expecting.
Having a few solid grounding practices is helpful when life is in this holding pattern. My rituals are a cup of tea by the fire, morning yoga practice, and daily doggy walks. Activities that slow my mind down to the pace that life is setting. During these times, I try to be fully present in an attempt to put a halt on the churning mind -the mind that thrives on being constantly in motion and craves quick results. However, we also must make sure to not keep ourselves so busy and preoccupied that we miss the opportunity to hear the message. Taking the time to just sit and explore the root of our feelings is the true gift. Questions such as, “why am I feeling this way?”, “where does this come from?” and “how can I accept the outcome no matter what?” and really allowing yourself the time to dive down to explore the answers. This process is a powerful way to uncover the driving force behind the feelings of impatience. Give it a shot next time you’re feeling a little anxious while you wait.
As my sister says, everything happens in divine time.