Mar 10, 2008 | 5:23 pm
Patience, grasshopper
My life has become very hectic in the last few weeks. Working towards graduation from the Fearless Living Institute, a new boss, a team of directors that I’ve joined, and taking some time for my health and well being - not to mention nurturing my relationship with my boyfriend - have all been consuming my attention.
My usually calm email box is now flushed with comments that are dying for a reply and I just simply don’t have the bandwidth to respond to all. I’m pretty well organized with my emails and I have a good idea of what’s out there to communicate about. I have choices to either join in the conversation, stand on the sidelines and just watch conversations, or be somewhere in between.
I tend to sway towards one side or the other and finding the ‘balance’ in between can be a challenge. I want my peers to know I’m still engaged which warrants a quick response, and yet I want to communicate in the most meaningful and value-added way as well which takes time to consider and develop responses.
So, I’m taking some time right now to consider answers to emails which may mean that others are waiting on me. The worst part about this for me, personally, is that others may get frustrated, angry, upset, judgmental, or downright nasty about not hearing from me. And I don’t like people to have those thoughts and feelings about me.
When I mention patience, it’s not really about the other person. The person who gets to practice patience is me. I get to practice patience with all those thoughts about what I expect of myself, of other people, of the world. I get to notice when others are impatient with me.
Homework:
What does patience look like to you? A deep breath? Smelling the flowers? Massaging your neck? Looking into the eyes of another? Yelling, kicking, and screaming? telling somebody off? Fleeing a situation?
Chose a moment to be patient today and just be. Take a ten second meditation and just see what happens. (10 second mediation? Yes, I actually meant that.)
Truly Yours,
Joseph Lyons
Carol Sturgeon Says:
Bravo, Joe. I’m taking my ten seconds right now.
Hugs,
Carol
Sue Melone Says:
Nice post, Joe. Months ago I learned a pretty powerful distinction made by James Ray: balance vs. harmony. He claims that balance is not realistic. Harmony helps us put more effort into some aspect of our lives for some time period (like pushing through your work to graduate) but still keeps us in sync…it is a fluid flow of energy where energy is required. You may want to check out some of his work on this topic.
Patience in action for me is asking myself “what is success right now?” when I feel those telling signs that I am losing my patience building inside of me. It worked this morning! : )
Thanks for the questions.
Sue
Linda Hoover Says:
Joey,
So happy to hear about your journey. Reading your blog reminded me of a lesson from my L.I.F.E. mentor. At some point in our workshop he would have us look people in the eye and say “I love you, I accept you, even if I don’t understand you.” And to I have used that when I have had to be patient with my friends and family.
I think it fits with the “connection” theme. And…..yahoo…..I have just been reconnected with my niece!
Life is beautiful!
Linda