Greatness is never achieved swiftly. Many great people throughout history have spent their entire lives striving for a cause that they were committed to. Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi are excellent examples.
Great people understand that racing to be first is not the goal because the resulting successes will not be long-lasting. Instead, they move toward their vision with slow, steady and deliberate steps. They understand that real success requires experience, growth and the cultivation of many skills.
Patience allows for better and more strategic decision-making to avoid pitfalls and setbacks.
Ironically, patience can help you achieve lasting success and greatness faster! If you are easily frustrated and tend to give up quickly then you are not destined for greatness. In today’s fast-paced digital world, having patience is much harder than ever before. Sadly, instant gratification is now the norm in our culture and is in direct contrast to patience.
However, there are a few simple ways to cultivate patience that you can start practicing today.
1. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness means to live in the present moment without worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Practice mindfulness daily so that your mind adopts it as a habit. You do this by focusing your attention on whatever you are doing at any given moment.
For example, when you are eating a meal, eat slowly. Focus fully on the smells, textures and tastes of the food. Chew slowly and savor every bite. Dismiss any distracting thoughts that come up, keeping your mind anchored in the here and now.
You can practice mindfulness with anything you do. It can be playing with your kids, having a conversation or working at your desk. A quick Google search will give you access to a variety of exercises to help you develop mindfulness.
2. Learn to delay gratification
Rather than rushing to get things done, savor and enjoy the steps you are taking to achieve a task or goal. When you slow down and take things at a leisurely pace, the end reward will be so much greater because you feel you have earned it.
3. Garden or grow plants
Gardening is one of the best ways to learn patience because quite simply, plants don’t grow overnight. Moreover, beautiful, healthy plants don’t grow on their own. They need tending, care and time. The pleasure and joy of seeing your efforts blossom into a beautiful rose bush is the embodiment of patience.
4. Listen to others
The Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium said that we were born with ‘two ears and one mouth.’ Therefore, we should talk less and listen more.
Taking the time to listen to others is a great way to develop patience and empathy. Train yourself not to interrupt others or force your opinions on them. In addition to cultivating patience and self-control, you will become immensely popular as well!
5. Practice stress relief
Stress is the major cause of frustration, impatience and anger. Find ways to de-stress regularly, whether through exercise, yoga, meditation or any other activity that relaxes you. Relieving stress helps you think, plan and act with more patience and purpose.
The bottom line: The ability to expect delay – and even to savor it – is another quality of great people. The ability to tolerate and overcome frustration is the secret that keeps great people going. Patience is indeed a virtue. The good news is that it can be developed. Start cultivating patience with the steps discussed in this chapter to further empower yourself to achieve great things.