When we confuse patience with not doing anything...

I feel that one of the most misunderstood guidance we may have given to others is the idea of patience. Whenever we tell someone to have patience, they automatically relax and stop doing anything and they just wait for things to happen for them, or to them. 

I have lost count of the number of times I tell my clients or students to have patience, and then they stop what they are supposed to be doing. 

They feel defeated as if the results they want is too far away that they want to give up. 

Why is this so?

Because patience seems like a long wait. Patience feels like nothing will happen and it is just a waiting game. 

But this is not so. When we practice patience, it is not about stopping our actions or pulling the brakes. It is about continuing to do what we do, but without expecting immediate results. 

It is about learning to see that every step we take, will take us closer to where we want to go. 

And most importantly, patience is about recognising that the PROCESS and the JOURNEY are more important than the results.

Patience is a fantastic teacher. It helps us to see things we would have probably missed, it helps us to understand what we possibly could not understand before. 

Sometimes, we want to rush through the process, because it is too difficult, too ugly, too painful. We want to bypass patience. 

Some even think practising patience on their spiritual path is just too old fashion. Now that is one big shadow-energy lurking, driving people towards the hamster wheel of no results, no progress. Far too common and rampant in younger people stepping on the spiritual path. 

I often use this analogy: practising patience is like waiting for the cake to bake. We can't hurry it up just because we want it to. Half baked cakes have never been known for their deliciousness. 

So the next time you are asked to practice patience, continue to do what you do like the oven slowly baking the cake. Take a deep breath and enjoy the process. 

©2021 Shamala Tan

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Shamala Tan is an author, spiritual entrepreneur and healer. Her work focuses on transforming the lives of others on the spiritual, emotional, mental and earthly level.

One of her success stories as an author is to being featured alongside New York’s bestsellers Sonia Choquette, Robert Allen, Arielle Ford, Marci Shimoff as well as Christine Kloser in the book Pebbles In The Pond.

Shamala’s clients include small business owners, holistic practitioners as well as those seeking to find more significant meaning and value in life. Shamala offers laser coaching to her clients on a one-to-one basis or in a group environment, offline as well as online.