Freedom from Waiting
Sometimes it can feel like all we’re doing is waiting. Waiting for work to be over, waiting in traffic, waiting for appointments, waiting for responses, waiting for the right conditions to feel satisfied. Some people spend their whole life waiting to start living. All we must do to break free of the strain of waiting is to remember that waiting is a state of mind. We want the future, we don’t want the present. We want something we don’t have, instead of truly acknowledging the blessing of what we currently have. This state of mind, detached from the present moment, creates an inner conflict for us. We’re too busy thinking of the future to notice the prosperous qualities of the now. Whenever we catch ourselves slipping into a state of waiting, we can take a deep breath and return our focus to the fullness of the present moment. When we are present, there’s no room in our awareness for the state of waiting. We can enjoy our breathing, our physical sensations, and just being in the moment. We can avoid the nerves of anticipation and the discomfort of boredom when we detach from the perpetual state of constantly waiting and enter the fulfilling state of constant curiosity. Being grateful and attentive to the details of the here and now is true, guaranteed prosperity. Don’t waste your precious time waiting around, live your life inspired and fully connected to the joy and wonder in every moment.
Cultivating Patience
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There will be times when we want something before we have it. Perhaps we’re sick and are impatient for healing, maybe we’re hungry and wanting immediate nourishment, maybe we want change in an area of our life that needs improvement. We can’t always have what we want in the second we desire it, and in these moments, we can enjoy exercising our patience. In moments where we can do nothing but wait, we can explore the grace and goodness of patience. When we refocus our awareness away from the future and direct it to observing the many wonders of the present moment, waiting transforms into an opportunity for mindfulness.
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Even our most busy days have moments where we need to wait. Some situations where we may need to wait can create feelings of frustration or impatience. In the unavoidable moments where we find ourselves waiting, we have a great opportunity to practice mindfulness of the present moment. For appointments where we feel nervous, awaiting food when we’re hungry, or even in the car during traffic, we can invite mindfulness to fill the time. Connecting to our breathing as we acknowledge all the conditions for inspiration around us can help us relax and fully enjoy the completion of our tasks instead of enduring the time spent waiting. When we bring our full awareness to the present moment, we can find peace.
Breathing Meditation for Patience
Our breath is a precious gift. We can increase our vitality by directing our attention to our breathing as we think or say the following phrases:
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Breathing in, I am Breathing out, Alive Breathing in, I am Breathing out, Healing Breathing in, I am Breathing out, Vibrant Breathing in, I am Breathing out, Happy |
Once we feel calm and centered, we can cultivate patience for any uncertainty:
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Breathing in, I have patience. Breathing out, I wait with love and grace. Breathing in, I am not worried. Breathing out, I wait blissfully. Breathing in, I am strong. Breathing out, I wait gracefully. Breathing in, I appreciate this moment in its entirety. Breathing out, I am not rushing into tomorrow. Breathing in, I explore this moment with acceptance. Breathing out, I find peace in this present moment. |
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”