Monday, October 18, 2010

Patience - Know When Now Is Not the Right Time

When something you're doing is important, you want stay on schedule. You want to move things forward. But when there are roadblocks or slowdowns, sometimes there’s nothing you can do to change the situation, and you can waste a lot of time pushing against a brick wall. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to be patient. You need to be realistic and know when to back off.

It’s easy to get frustrated when other people don’t move at the pace you want them to – whether it’s the driver in front of you, a coworker who’s learning something that you mastered years ago, or a child you’re teaching to behave in a new way.

But there’s a downside to showing irritation. Think about how you feel when someone gets impatient with you. If you’re trying your best, their attitude can make you feel discouraged or resentful. So imagine how others feel when you become annoyed with them.

If you find yourself getting upset because things aren’t going your way, ask yourself this question. “Realistically, is there anything I can do right now to move things forward?”

If the answer is yes, then do it. But if it’s no, then you need to get to accept your situation as quickly as possible. You may in fact need to take action, but not now. Waiting for the right time to act is a critical aspect of patience.

You’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and disappointment if you learn to manage your expectations. Recognize that you don’t have the power to influence every situation. When you adjust your perspective, you’ll be more serene in the face of circumstances that are beyond your control.

A Fortune Cookie...


Know when now isn't the right time, and you'll be ready when it is.


The story behind the Fortune Cookies...

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength .

1 comment:

Sarcastic Bastard said...

This is a helpful post, Denny. I struggle with having patience A LOT. Laugh. Sometimes I need to just leave well enough alone.

Hope all is well. Love to you and Kathleen.

SB