Hey, They Call Me Connie…

There’s something about scrolling through social media on a slow afternoon that feels like the modern version of torture. You see the success stories – someone else’s promotion, dream house, picture-perfect vacation, the “I-got-up-and-ran-five-miles-before-dawn” bragging rights – and you think, How? And why not me?

We’ve all been there, caught in a trap of comparison so thick it feels impossible to climb out of. Yet, we tend to forget that what we want – our goals, our dreams, the life we imagine – isn’t built by throwing ourselves into comparison or hustling until we’re burnt out. Instead, it’s often waiting quietly on the other side of something far less glamorous: patience.

Let’s talk about the benefits of patience – the kind that isn’t passive, but powerful. Because while impatience drives us to make quick decisions, sometimes sacrificing quality or even happiness, patience requires a different kind of strength. It’s the strength to believe that our path, though slower, might just lead us somewhere more beautiful than any Instagram post could ever capture.

Comparison: The Thief of Patience

We’ve all felt it: the sting of watching others reach milestones we’re still working towards. But if we’re honest, how much of our impatience is fueled by the pressure to “keep up” rather than our own inner clock? Goals are like fingerprints – unique to each of us. The progress someone else makes doesn’t invalidate the value of our journey.

Consider this: comparison often forces us into rushed decisions, as if success were a limited resource someone else could snatch away. But patience reminds us that the timeline that matters most is our own. Rather than sprinting after every opportunity that looks shiny on the outside, patience helps us sift through, saying yes to what truly aligns with us and leaving the rest.

Patience and Long-Term Decisions

One of my favorite perspectives on this came from an interview with Oprah. When asked about her approach to career and life choices, she said, “I learned to delay the rush for results and instead to wait until I could see the impact of my actions. The big picture doesn’t come from quick wins; it comes from staying the course.” That’s patience. Not just as a virtue, but as a strategy.

Patience gives us the space to think long-term, avoiding the costly detours that come from making impulsive decisions. When we allow ourselves the grace to take our time, we set ourselves up to make choices that will still feel right years down the road. A quick decision may satisfy today’s wants, but patience – that’s what builds tomorrow’s foundation.

Patience, Discipline, and Our Well-Being

Here’s the thing about patience: it isn’t just about waiting; it’s about waiting well. This is where discipline steps in as patience’s loyal partner. Discipline gives us the structure to keep going, even when the results aren’t instant, even when it feels like everyone else is moving ahead. Together, patience and discipline create a sense of peace that extends far beyond career goals or personal milestones. It becomes part of our well-being.

Patience teaches us to slow down, giving our mind and body permission to breathe, to recharge, to focus. It’s the antidote to burnout, the permission slip we rarely grant ourselves but desperately need. In a world where speed is glorified, patience reminds us that true, lasting fulfillment is something we’re allowed to take our time for.

So next time the impatience creeps in, the comparison feels sharp, or the temptation to rush gets too loud, remember this: everything you want is on the other side of patience. And it’ll be worth every moment you waited.