Within our Wisdom Notes, last week we explored popularity versus integrity. These bits of wisdom help us to live a rich and satisfying life while creating a living legacy. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read past newsletters.

As I consider all of the tasks and projects that I would like to accomplish around the Big House, and with our clients in the next few months, I have to admit that I do become impatient waiting. Both monetary resources and time will impact achievement and hinder what I would like to accomplish. As I have matured and become wiser, I realize that there is no need to rush and that everything that needs to be accomplished will be in its own time. I take encouragement from the practical advice found in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

So let’s head out this week we navigate a difficult trail and discover the…

Power of Patience

To quote an old proverb, “You can’t unring a bell.” Let me ask you this question, “Do you act on impulse and then, after the fact, do damage control or manage the crises? “There is no unringing of a bell.” When you consciously practice being patient, you will recognize the benefits immediately both for those whom you impact and for yourself. Patience does not always mean inaction. It shows your ability to make wise, well thought out decisions on a timely basis, especially when it involves dealing with others. You are always being watched for your actions and reactions in life. Patience is considered a virtue, but most people don’t feel that they have high moral standards and unwavering maturity required for patience. We need to understand that impatience can lead to poor behavior, anger, and intolerance, which are character traits that are not desirable. So, how do we learn the power and practice of patience? How can we manage our feelings and recognize our triggers that lead to impatience?

The Signs of Impatience

One of the greatest and most difficult skills that I have had to learn to develop is the power of patience. It has helped me personally and professionally more than any courses that I have ever taken.

The people that have had the most positive impact on our lives are patient people who took the time to explain concepts to teach us and care for us. The result of learning this important skill is that it can help you develop every relationship in your life both personal and professional.

All of us are leaders in some aspect of life. As a leader, you must be decisive but also show patience as necessary. You will need to know when to be patient and when to immediately take action. In both instances, how you behave is critical to the outcome.

We have all seen the signs of impatience. You can see it in someone’s eyes, their actions, and in what they say. There are also key triggers to create poor behavior in those who easily lose their patience. How do you know when you’re becoming impatient? You will probably experience one or more of the following symptoms: erratic breathing patterns, tension, restlessness, anger, irritability, anxiety, and nervousness. It is also evident because you become susceptible to making quick, knee-jerk, snap decisions that manifest in poor decision-making and poor results.

What is the purpose of building patience? It boils down to setting proper expectations for ourselves, which results in personal happiness. This includes peace of mind, better relationships, and more success. Well worth the effort, I’d say, but it does take effort. There is power in being patient as Proverbs 16:32 explains, “Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.” Also as Proverbs 25:15 states, “Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.”

How to Manage Impatience

Consider that while you are acting impatient, those around you see this. Is this the type of character trait that you desire to pass on as part of your living legacy each day? Those that you impact will learn this behavior from observing you, which is not beneficial to them.

When we sort out all of the excuses of why we are impatient, it all boils down to one factor. In a word, it is selfishness. We believe that our desires are more important than other people or situations. Patience should be manifested in all areas of life. Here are some beneficial examples of manifested patience:

1 Corinthians 13:4 – Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud.

Ephesians 4:2 – Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Hebrews 10:36 – Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

Patience is also one of the attributes of a mature Christian life mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. – But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Are there ever reasons or situations where you should not be patient? Yes, there are, especially if someone is being harmed or there is a potential danger to life or limb. However, how you “act” makes all of the difference when dealing with others. You should never lose your patience and get angry, abusive, pushy, or intolerant. I know this sounds easy in theory and is incredibly difficult in practice, but it can be done. We are driven by emotions, and at times impulsive, so we need to learn to practice patience. Patience is a learned skill, and only with practice can we develop skills to cope.

You need to realize and understand that you may never unravel why or how you feel about something. Be willing to acknowledge your triggers towards impatience. Understand the signs of impatience and develop ways to work through and manage them. Since you cannot change others, work on your behavior. Practice patience and it will result in making a positive impact and become part of the legacy that you are living each day. Remember, “You can’t unring a bell.”

On today’s trek, we learned just how powerful patience really is. When we are patient, we have a more effective and positive impact than when we are impatient. Patience should become an integral part of the legacy that we are living each day. As we hike our next trail, we will learn how to live your dreams. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.