(noun)
The capacity to accept or
tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. (Oxford
Dictionary)
The quality of being patient, as
the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint,
loss of temper, irritation, or the like. (dictionary.com)
Personally,
I’ve been experiencing loads of things related to patience. The biggest issue
is waiting. My dad has taught me about the punctuality since I was a kid
so I just can’t stomach people being late. By degrees my punctuality over all
the things was starting to make me impatient. I was struggled to stomach those
who always come late time after time. Consequently, I was starting to put blame
to others for making me impatient. “It’s you who came late and made me
upset”, “make sure you’ll be on time so I won’t be upset”, etc.
I was
starting to be impatient toward punctuality. Things were getting serious and
really bothering me. Actually being punctual is a good thing. Yes it is
important indeed for important things, but not everything. Rather than
frustrating toward others’ unpunctuality, I chose to keep on track by being
punctual instead. I would warn them once or twice, but I wouldn’t make that
thing bothers me. Not everything needs a reaction.
Second issue
which makes me impatience is watching myself and others doing wrong thing. I
used to let myself doing wrong things consciously and yet it didn’t work any
good for me. From the day on, I chose to keep reminding (and doing) right things
as much as I can. Eventually, I made myself set some kind of standard.
The good thing is I can keep remind myself to behave like my standard
accordingly. Incidentally, I somehow wanted people around me to behave based on
the standard I set. Furthermore, I started to ask and persuade them to
do right things which based on my standard and become upset when they
didn’t do the right thing accordingly.
I was like “hey
that is wrong! Stop doing that”; “you do this and don’t do that!”. I
was being impatient again. Then I realise that I cannot push someone to do
accordingly. I’ve been doing that because it is influenced by my past,
value my family taught me, and of course the value I got from Jesus Christ; but
not theirs. There, I start to be chill and choose to discuss it with them
instead. To make them understand about the consequences. I didn’t mean to be
bossy and command them to do those things, but it’s just that I’ve known about
the consequences that I don’t want them to be there.
Next thing is quite
silly and childish. I used to become impatient when I can’t get something I
wanted IMMEDIATELY *bad, bad, suzan* *grin*.
Along with the list is that I was reactive even to random ppl who disturb me.
There, I realised that I don’t have to sweat small stuff. Those
four things are some of the things mentioned on the Weakness section of my
S.W.O.T analysis. Yet those things are the stimulants of me being impatient.
Am I 100% patient for the rest
of my life? of course the answer is NO. Being patient is not as easy as
blink an eye.
I was on the phone
the other day with my mom. I shared my story about a random girl who had been
making trouble with me. She was surprised –and a bit upset- about how
disrespectful, unreasonable and rude the girl was.
My mom asked
me, “so how was ur reaction to the girl?”
And I was
like “I replied her respectfully even after entire things she said to me. You
know me, mom, of course I was surprised and upset at the moment. Oh I was
shaking as well while replying her message. I was shaking because I try to
control my anger. I imagined her message as the devil that was dancing in front
of me and asking me to punch him right in the face. Of course I can ‘punch’
him immediately. But then I think again… should I really respond the devil?
Can’t I find a better way to respond it? I remember 1 Peter 5 : 8 (“be
self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour”) There, I chose the right and
respectful yet powerful words to respond the girl….and won the battle with my
own ego.”
And my mom
was like “Wow. You really did what God asked His children to do. You’ve changed
and improved. I’m proud of you.”
See? I still
have my weaknesses, but the point is I’ve been improving the way I live my
life. I continuously try to improve the quality of my life. And do believe that
you can do it as well. Ignore what people say about ur transformations –be more
patient to be specific. You may hear ppl say “Ah you’re being angel. We know
who you really are, how you behave.” Here’s the thing: There will always be
obstacles when we do the transformation. Every time you’re about to give up,
think twice about the consequences, believe in yourself and ask the strength
from God so that you can nail the obstacle and win every battle.
“The problem is not the
problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” –Jack
Sparrow.
Looking back
at the meaning of Patience mention at the beginning, I pray that God will
strengthen us –you and I– so that we can have the right attitude to face
the provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without (or less) complaint,
loss of temper, irritation, or the like. I am neither perfect nor right about
everything. Just absorb the good points from my post. Remember: be willing to
listen to others and be teachable. You’re not right about everything….nobody
is.
“Good character is not formed in a
week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and
patient effort is needed to develop good character.” –Heractlitus.
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