It is easy to become impatient and frustrated, but just imagine what life would be like if Thomas Edison gave up trying to invent the electric light after failing thousands of times. He had lots of ideas and the patience to carry them out. When asked about the attempts that didn't work, Edison allegedly said something like, " I didn't fail 10,000 times ; I just found 10,000 ways that didn't work. "
Yes, as well as being patient, he was persistent, and the two do go together : One could say that you need to have the patience to be persistent, or vice versa. The real truth you have the answers or trusting your ability enough that you know you will find them. That is the essence of self-confidence.
Self-confidence doesn't come from sitting on your hands and waiting for something to happen. It is about throwing everything you have against the wall and waiting ( patiently ) for something to stick. Then you have to take your time to refine your projects. For many, that is the hardest part of the process. Great innovators can be very impatient when it comes to the implementation of their ideas.
Remember that when you are being impatient with yourself, there is no one who can defend you. Our self-imposed " Deadlines " really need to be changed to " Preferred Time Lines. " If you miss a deadline, it unconsciously creates anxiety because a part of your brain actually feels as though you will die if the job doesn't get done. That also happens when a person doesn't give you what you think you want, when you think you need it. Your mind is really telling you that you may lose something very important to you and that can cause some panic. When you are stressed in that way, getting anything done is more problematic.
Practicing patience, by forcing yourself to take your time, can also be done by realizing how you react with people you are close to. If you are impatient with them it is likely that you will be the same way with yourself, and that shows a lack of self-confidence. Learn how to be more patient with yourself when life gets in the way or requires more time than you budgeted, by working harder on going with the flow. If you feel yourself starting to get antsy, take a patience pill by simply reminding yourself that Rome wasn't built in a day, and whatever you are involved in is worth the time you are investing.
Patience may be a virtue, but if is also a necessity in achieving and living a self-confident life.
Johnny Kang -JK
27 JAN 2011
03 : 36 AM
