“The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” – Fabiene Fredrickson.
I always remind myself of this quote especially when things may not be progressing as fast as I would like them to. Those days when I feel like I am not getting any reward from my efforts. Those moments when I feel like giving up.
When you decide to lose weight that is not the day that you lose a stone in weight.
When you decide that you are going to run your own business that is not the day that you become successful.
When you decide to learn to play the piano that is not the day that you become a pianist.
When you decide to make a personal change that is not the day that you become transformed.
Usually when I become impatient, I often think ‘this is not working’ and can lead to feelings of frustration and wanting to give up. What I am really saying is that this is not working fast enough.
Living in a world where everything is on speed dial and having 24/7 access to most things, it is no wonder we have adjusted our behaviours and expectations about wanting results as fast as possible.
This is more likely to work if you are ordering a pizza or need to google search an answer to a question. It is less likely to work when you are setting out to make a personal change, grow your business or learn a new skill.
When it comes to making any kind of change, patience is a given. According to the Cambridge dictionary, patience means the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.
Do not underestimate the role your mindset also plays in the process of change. Understanding the relationship between the mind, body and brain connection is key when it comes to making changes regardless of whether you are implementing a new business strategy or pursuing a personal goal.
When you are being impatient (the lack of patience), you can often feel stressed. The sense of urgency can trigger your brain into believing that there needs to be an immediate response to deal with the perceived imminent danger. It often leads to poor decision making, lack of focus and overwhelm.
You may be familiar with the sayings “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and “patience is a virtue”, however being patient is not about waiting for things to happen. It is important to recognise being patient is also about taking measured action, whilst procrastination or perfectionism is justifying inaction. There is a difference.
When you find yourself getting impatient here are 5 steps that will help:
Step 1: Become self-aware of when you feel impatient.
Step 2: Breathe. My go to favourite tool to neutralise the stress you may be experiencing.
Step 3: Identify what your triggers are.
Step 4: Become an ‘Objective Observer’ and ask yourself the following questions:
- What story am I telling myself about this situation?
- How can I look at this differently?
- What are my options?
- How is my impatience helping or hindering me?
- What can I control?
- What is outside of my control?
Step 5: Knowing what you now know, what one small simple step you can take to address your situation?
There are so many examples of people who we know like Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg who were all either rejected or failed at some point in their careers yet demonstrated great persistence and patience in pursing their dreams.
My point is that no matter what change you are planning, give some thought to what it might take for you to succeed. Accept and acknowledge that it will take patience, resilience, a brave heart, commitment, energy, discipline and consistency.
Whatever change you are planning just remember that the day you decide to change, that is not the day you reap the rewards. Being patient, maintaining your faith and your self-belief are key ingredients in the change process.
What do you need to be more patient about right now? Leave a comment below.
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