Patience-
When has it ever been easy?
The New Year is always a busy time for many people. Between setting new goals, trying to plan each day out to the perfect minute, and achieving those new goals we tend to get tied up in the goal; rather than cultivating the characteristic itself. This is precisely why I choose not to create new goals each year (and partly because I no longer pay attention to the time of my life), instead I choose an overall theme or characteristic I would like to work on throughout the year; an intention, if you will.
“Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control: the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment , to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let’s be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand.”-Henri Nouwen
I invite you to join me in this year of patience, or perhaps, create your own yearly intention/value. Here are some examples: compassion, deep-listening, mindfulness, giving and receiving, forgiveness, etc.
The great thing about having a word, or phrase, of the year is that it provides you with focus. Simple focus.
You can cultivate this value into your life in many ways:
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Journaling
- As you walk
- Teaching
- Writing Poetry, Novels, Articles
- Giving Speeches
- Giving Advice
Good luck to you on this intimate journey of getting to know the deep side of yourself. Journey On!
-E.Sel(:)
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