I recently read about how impatience is a sign of hurrying, hurrying is a sign of worrying, and worrying is a sign of fear.
So, what are we all so afraid of? Fear can come in all shapes and sizes. In regards to hurrying, it’s the fear of being late. That fear of being late has a wide spectrum. It can range from little things, like showing up late to a dinner party or dropping your kids off at school, to bigger things such as thinking you’re too old to be as successful as you’d like, or that it’s too late for love in your life.
We live in a society that encourages the go go go, lifestyle. We are bombarded with images, articles, and videos on social media that provide us with the impression that everyone else is ahead. This person has a better career than you, that one has a better marriage, the next has a bigger house, has a better body, went on a better vacation, has more kids, or whatever it is that you want–it’s in your face. For some reason we tell ourselves our time has run out. So-and-so already has it, so it’s too late for me.
When we view the world from the outside looking in, it’s no wonder why it’s so easy to feel impatient. It’s super common to not just want it, but to WANT IT NOW!
This day and age is full of instant gratification. People regularly have little patience for anything. It’s as if success, love, weight loss, etc. must happen overnight, or it’s just not good enough. This leads to thoughts like, I’m not good enough, which never feels good.
What if you believed you had all the time in the world? If you knew there was no expiration date on being able to fulfill your dreams, how would you feel? Sure, no one lives forever, but when I think these thoughts, I feel a sense of relief. The sense of urgency to have what I want right NOW, subsides.
What if you were confident that in a few short months you would be at your ideal weight? Who would you be if you were sure in a year from now, your business would be flourishing, you’d fall in love, and have whatever else it is you feel so rushed to have today? All you have to do to believe it, is to think it, and consciously think these things frequently.
Now, I don’t have all of this figured out yet, and I do have my moments when I want to stomp my foot like my four year old. What I do know though, is that when I look at my life today, I sure do have a lot of the things I dreamt of ten years ago. If I had known back then that all I desired was on it’s way, I would have relaxed and enjoyed that time in my life a whole lot more.
Try that thought on for size…All that I desire is on it’s way. Ahhh, feels good to me, and allows me to relax, and enjoy what I have right now.
Ever hear the saying, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint”? Slooooow dooooooowwwwwwn. There’s really no need to hurry. Try and trust that everything is happening exactly as it should, and accept what is. Arguing with reality (which is ultimately what impatience is), doesn’t serve you. That impatience won’t speed things up; it only guarantees icky feelings.
And really, what’s the rush?? Today, try enjoying where you’re at and just how far you’ve come. My guess is you have a lot of the things you once dreamt of, and there’s more of that good stuff coming your way…
That’s it; that’s all I got for ya!
Happy Day!
