PATIENCE IS AN OVERRATED VIRTUE

 

Whoever says patience is a virtue has too much time on their hands. Patience is virtue propaganda from someone who obviously consistently owes money. I rage against patience as someone who admittedly, has a ton of it. Patience is an enabler’s nightmare and a manipulators most valued tool.

My rant against patience, of course comes with important exceptions. Patience is a required necessity for child rearing, sitting in traffic to combat road rage and courting a loved one. There are others, but the general premise that good things come to those that wait is a fallacy. It’s like the trickle down effects of expecting the wealth of a few to somehow benefit the masses…yeah, keep waiting for that one!

I am sure that I share a trait that many of you do in that I am both supremely patient at times and infuriatingly impatient at others. I amend my original statement slightly to say that patience, at times, is in fact a virtue. There are so many scenarios and circumstances in our lives that dictate the use of patience. The alternative to not exhibiting patience in some of those situations can have far reaching effects. Particularly in our relationships, both personal and business, patience is required in dealing with people.

However, while patience is a required virtue, it is absolutely overrated overall. For all of the circumstances out of our control that require a degree of patience nearly a similar set of circumstances require overt actions to counterbalance doing nothing.

It is a complete misnomer to believe that good things come to those that wait in life. Every cliché, no matter how ridiculous, contain some elements of truth. Yet, what is more true is that while success of any kind generally does not occur immediately, hard work and perseverance are more likely to result in success than any type of passive waiting.

Semantics for sure, but passivity and waiting are almost always a recipe for disaster. I understand that change and progress are not always immediate, but I have also learned the hard way that waiting, particularly on others, for your fortunes to change is counterproductive to progress.

You have to be vigilant and persistent, with only a dash of patience. Your actions will speak far louder than any of your inactions. While we must understand that instant gratification is shortsighted, because most enduring success does not come quickly. By the same token, we must also learn to adjust and move on when things are not working.

It is not an easy choice or balance to make, but the use of patience should never supersede your ability to amend your hustle. If at first you don’t succeed, do not wait forever for the same results from the same circumstances without the willingness to overtly make necessary changes in order to receive a different result.

Patience is a virtue, albeit an overrated one. Life involves consistent audibling. Patience cannot be confused with passivity. It is an important distinction that many of us do not always make. A life of fulfillment requires initiative. For all of the circumstances beyond our control, perseverance can only be stopped by ones self.

 

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2 comments

  1. I definitely can see where you’re coming from and I have to agree. And you’re right, there are circumstances where patience is needed but in other cases patience is used as an excuse by lazy people. I enjoyed this peace.

  2. I would recommend to go and take some therapy, patience is one thing, but identify that some one wants to manipulate you is another thing. Patience is not overrated, maybe its worth to do some reflection on how we need more instant gratification. Patience is not the ability to wait but how you act while you’re waiting. i.e. it is not to engage in passive endurance but in active perseverance.

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