Words by Alisa Stanton.
I’ve been thinking about the role of patience in reflection. Patience helps us to reflect not only on what we currently have, but also on our hopes for the future.
Patience is needed when the things we want are not available to us immediately. Patience does not have to be passive though. It can involve both action to move towards the outcomes you want, and a conscious effort to remember the natural ebb and flow of life that has inherent ups and downs, successes and failures, times of fulfillment and times of want.
I always loved this quote on patience and find it a helpful reminder when I’m struggling with impatience.
“Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to look at the end of a process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be shortsighted as to not be able to see the outcome. Time is needed for the crescent moon to become full.” – Shams Tabrizi
When I’m feeling frustrated about things not going my way I try to remember that sometimes I’m wrong about what’s best for me. I may have an idea about how I want things to be, but the truth is, it’s not always a bad thing if things go differently than I plan. By practicing patience, good surprises have a chance to unfold. The next time you’re feeling impatient, gently remind yourself that you don’t always know what is best for you and that’s okay.
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