Patience

No one wants to talk about patience.  We don't have time for that.  In our fast paced, highly competitive world, patience is a character trait of the weak.  If we want to win we have to go, go, go!!  We are always looking towards the next thing.  While keeping our eyes forward is important, the fast paced hustle and bustle can cause us to miss the moment.

I read an article a couple of years ago about anxiety.  The article compared anxiety levels in teenagers today.  The study stated that the average teenager today carries the same level of anxiety as a mental patient from the 1950s.  This statistic blew my mind.  As I examined why this was true and how I could help, I realized how this world we have created adds so much stress into our lives that the ability to find peace is almost non existent.  We work 40 hours a week.  But then when we get home we answer emails from the boss or text messages from a coworker.  We turn on the news.  We see war, famine, drought, devastation.  We scroll through social media.  We see the hate, the trolls and all the division that exists not only in our country, but in our world.  We are constantly connected.  We are an on demand, need it right now world.  We have no patience for waiting 3 days for something to arrive from Amazon.  All of this causes us to miss the moments that can re-center us and bring us joy.  It isn't just about stopping to smell the roses.  It is slowing down enough to enjoy the life that is in front of us.  It is the patience to understand that there is a reward in the journey, not just in reaching our destination.  Think about going up a mountain.  At the start of your day I gave you two options to reach the top of a mountain.  Option 1 is to take the train.  It is a fast, smooth ride.  You will get to the top and enjoy one of the most scenic views in the world.  Option 2 is to hike up the mountain.  Along the way you are able to spot birds and other wild life you have never seen before.  You stop for lunch at an amazing waterfall.  You are able to hear stories from those with you about how they hiked this very mountain when they were younger.  You get to the top of the mountain in time to enjoy the most beautiful view in the world.  Both options lead to the same destination.  But only one of those options leads fulfillment.  The second options forces us to slow down and prioritize relationships over time.  Time, the lack there of, is the enemy which causes some much anxiety.  Our fear that somehow we will miss out on something great if we don't get to the next activity.  What we don't realize though is that by looking ahead to the next thing, we missed the journey.  

Take some time this week and slow down.  Enjoy time with family and friends.  Put your phone down.  Turn the TV off.  Engage with your family and friends.  The time it takes to build those relationships and reduce the anxiety of getting to the next thing will be well worth the extra effort this week.  Value quality of time together this week.  

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