One of my tasks for this lifetime is to tame my impatience. I know this because of how frequently I am presented with the opportunity to experience it. When I can’t find my keys, my computer takes too long to boot up, someone drives too slowly, I have to wait in line…patience is not my strong suit.
Sometimes I am able to ask myself, “Will this (insert situation here) really matter to me in a year?” Or, if I’m really stuck, I ask, “Will it matter when I am on my deathbed?” Usually this pulls me out of my impatience long enough to see how truly insignificant this particular situation is in the grand scheme of things.
We live in a “drive-thru” kind of culture — we want what we want, we want it now, and often we can get it now! This has allowed us to get used to immediate results. And when we don’t get them, we grow impatient.
Perhaps you can think of a situation in which you have felt impatient. As you look back, was it worth it? Does it matter to you now? Will it matter when you are on your deathbed?
It might be helpful to experiment with this the next time you feel impatient. Ask yourself if the situation will matter to you later. Then think about how you might better spend your emotional energy.
Peace,
Leslie
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