Patience Is Often Misunderstood
When patience becomes our enemy, and we don't know about it.
Patience is a word that many of us admire. We praise it in others and remind ourselves to practice it. Yet I often feel that we quietly misunderstand what patience truly asks of us.
This philosophy is so popular that one has to be patient while pursuing something. We hear it from parents, teachers, elders, and even strangers offering advice. Patience becomes a companion we are told to carry with us as we walk toward our goals. I have always liked the idea of patience. It feels gentle and dignified. Still, I cannot help but feel that many of us are holding the wrong picture of it in our minds.
Think for a moment about what patience means to you.
Some time ago, I asked a few friends and neighbours this question. The answers were quick and confident. Almost everyone said the same thing in different words. Patience means waiting for something to happen. Patience means waiting for what we want. Patience means holding on until the future finally delivers what we have been hoping for.
Waiting.
That word appeared again and again in their answers. It sounded reasonable at first. Waiting feels close to patience. Yet something about it always seemed slightly misplaced, like a piece of furniture that fits in the room but never quite feels right.
