Wait!

There can be great power in choosing to wait instead of acting on some thought or project. We live in a world of instant everything. From food to reading the news to speed dating, we’ve gotten used to the idea that we can have what we want when we want it. The when is usually right now.

For youngsters whose parents don’t embody wisdom, this means living without impulse control. Living without impulse control means a life of frustration because the truth is we can’t have everything we want immediately. Sometimes, we can’t have it at all. The value in learning how to wait is that it gives us time to be sure we really want what we think we want and to grow into handling whatever it is we are working towards.

For instance, a woman who won a $590 million lottery waited two weeks to claim her winnings because she said she wanted to make sure she and her family were ready to handle everything that comes with winning such a large sum of money. Wise woman. I doubt she will be like some lottery winners who are broke within a few years because they didn’t take the time to make plans and went on spending sprees instead.

On a smaller scale, sometimes people get very impatient when they want to change careers or jobs and the new situation doesn’t show up right away. Frequently, the reason they must wait is to give them time to gain the skills, expertise, or emotional maturity needed for the new position. Sometimes there are other people involved and we must wait for them to be ready to move on before we can have the position.

For instance, when you want to change jobs, it is likely that someone else currently holds the job you want. Until they are ready to make their move, you won’t be able to make yours. Frequently, you won’t know this and simply have to wait for right timing. On occasion, life hands us the game of dominos and we have to wait for ours to fall.

There have been several times in my life when I was given very clear signs I needed to wait before taking action. I overrode my inner guidance instead of paying attention to it. During one particular period when I was about to make a huge career move, things seemed to move very slowly. Calls weren’t returned. People would keep me waiting for appointments. I sat at numerous red lights when before I would sail through them. The word “stop” would show up in strange places.

No matter what I did to move forward, I was thwarted. I did realize I was probably being told to wait, to slow down, to think things through better. But I was in a hurry, wanted what I wanted, and chose not to believe these were the messages. I overrode them. Like the Knight of Swords in the Rider Tarot Deck I charged ahead straight into the storm that was clearly blowing towards me.

The situation did not work out in my favor and caused challenges for me! It was a huge lesson in being patient, learning how to wait, and following inner guidance when it goes against what I think I want.

Here’s three tips for learning how to wait.

Get in touch with your breathing and consciously slow it down. Be very aware of taking slow, deep breaths. This will slow down your entire system and helps to ground you into the present, where you need to be. Impatience happens when we’re living in the future of what we think we want instead of in the present where we have what is happening.

Remind yourself that good things take time. Think about how long it took planet earth to carve out the Grand Canyon and grow the Redwood Forest. Think about crops that are grown for food and how long it takes from planting a seed to being able to eat an ear of corn. Get in touch with how long it has taken you to get to where you are today. None of that happened overnight. Be willing to allow life its process.

Give yourself some space from the current situation. When it looks like you need to wait, get away. Physically go somewhere for a day or longer and let yourself get some perspective on the situation. Sometimes a change in geography, even something as simple as going to a little cabin overnight, allows clarity to shine through. The reason for waiting might become clear and makes it much easier to be patient.

Learning to be patient and to wait for life’s fruit to ripen is a skill, one well worth taking the time to learn.

Living in race and ease,

Krysta

Did you know I offer Guided Meditative Journeys, books, and MP3s at my website anoasisforyoursoul.com? I do, so check it out!