We all grew up hearing the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." Yep, sounds great on paper! That said, when you're in the midst of having to exercise patience in order to get what you want just thinking about that statement creates an eye roll and frustration. Ugh! Who wants to wait an endless amount of time for that thing? Maybe you're waiting for that next job promotion, a vacation you can't seem to afford, that perfect house, a baby or big love. Let's face it, it doesn't matter if you're 8 or 88 having to be patient for what you want can, well, suck.
That all said, here comes the wisdom. As torturous as having to be patient may be, it's in the moments that require us to be patient that we become our greatest self. Patience is one of life's great lessons, and what we learn during those agonizing moments is in reality a precious gift. The gain far out ways the anguish. Learning to love patience is the secret to life.
Here are three ways to fall in love with patience:
Let Go
Life is a river, and you always have choice. You can choose to fight the current, putting yourself in a position where you're constantly having to swim and keep moving so you don't drown -- a choice that exhausts the mind, body and soul. Or, you can choose to let go of control and let the current take you down the river with ease -- enjoying the view while floating on your back and being shaped by new experiences. Yes, there may be a waterfall (that's life), but it's much easier to survive a waterfall when you're not already exhausted from fighting the current. When you do let go the wait becomes easier, even enjoyable, and in return you're often given something far better than you imagined.
Breathe
Your breath is your solace and refuge. Breath can cause you to hyperventilate or put you into a deep relaxation. It's a more powerful detoxifier than working out, and it's your best friend when life is requiring great levels of patience. As a daily practice take notice of how you're breathing. When you're in the car, sitting in the office, going to the bathroom, standing in line or visiting your favorite getaway spot practice breathing and feel the anxiety lesson. Take a deep inhale through the nose, down into the belly and slowly exhale through the mouth. Repeat this breath exercise multiple times throughout the day and you'll naturally find yourself becoming a more patient person.
Gratitude
Moments requiring patience gives you the gift of time. The best use of time is taking notice of the blessings in your life and saying, "Thank you." More often than not, when you're having to be patient you become fixated on the very thing you don't have RIGHT NOW. It becomes an obsession, and that obsession can create a negative spiral in all areas of your life -- making the wait even more difficult. By turning your focus on what you already have and are grateful for you begin to attract people, things and situations that are positive and healthy for your life -- making the wait that much sweeter.
Author, speaker and coach, Gina Soleil is acclaimed author of Fuel Your Business: How to energize people, ignite action and drive profit. She blogs and speaks about how to create a life where you're energized, feel good and are happy. Visit ginasoleil.com and follower her on Twitter.
Photo credit: IShutterToThink / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
-----------
HuffPost's GPS for the Soul app is based on two truths about human beings. First: We all have a centered place of wisdom, harmony and balance within us. Second: We're all going to veer away from that place, again and again and again. What we need is a great course-correcting mechanism -- a GPS for the Soul -- to help us find our way back to that centered place, from which everything is possible.
Because no one knows better than you what helps you de-stress and tap into that place of peace inside yourself, it's important for you to create your very own GPS guide -- a personalized collection of whatever helps you course-correct. Email us at GPS@huffingtonpost.com and we'll set you up with your very own HuffPost blogger account to share your guide on the site. If you're already a blogger, we encourage you to upload your personal guide today. We can't wait to see what you have to share.