Impatient

Yes, I have to admit that I have my impatient moments. They especially plague me when I’ve hatched a brilliant idea and want to carry it out immediately. Every delay is a source of irritation: people who don’t answer immediately, the wrong weather, traffic jams, appointments that are difficult to make, etc. I start feeling like a horse fuming at the bit.

My mind knows that this is a useless emotion. It uses up valuable energy. It keeps me out of the present moment, I am totally focused on the future and my desire. Willing replaces being present. I simply feel out of sorts.

Yesterday I took part in an introductory workshop held by my colleague Nanette Kant on Life Coaching in Nature. I’m deeply impressed by her approach to time. We are all a part of nature and the laws of nature apply to ourselves. Everything has a natural time and season, a right moment. We can learn to trust this. If we follow our natural tempo, things will flow. If we try to force and control things, they won’t and we’ll get frustrated and blocked.

My own way to deal with feelings of impatience and frustration is similar to her approach. I sit down in a quiet place, close my eyes, breathe deep and let the breath go with a sigh. Then I recite the following words to myself, silently:
• I do not need to have everything immediately
• I may allow myself to wait
• I may trust that things happen when the time is ripe
• And, if not, something else will happen

Afterwards, I remain sitting, observing my breath, my body, sounds and sensations around me. Mindfully in the moment. My feelings of frustration ebb away and I start feeling at peace with that which is.

While writing this, I was suddenly reminded of Pete Seegar’s interpretation of a bible text in the beautiful song Turn, Turn, Turn:

To Everything there is a season
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
…

How do you deal with your impatient moments?

Images to accompany this blog