Be Patient
About 10 years ago, a researcher tested hundreds of adults to see how long they could wait in a room by themselves with nothing to distract them. They could choose to wait a full 15 minutes, or they could tap a device that would zap them with a strong electrical current and end the waiting period sooner.
Yep, 67% of men and 25% of women made the choice to shock themselves rather than finish the waiting period. How long would you have lasted?
Our capacity to wait, cultivate patience, and enjoy boredom is being eroded thanks to our high-tech pace of life. This has the effect of inhibiting our ability to engage with life in a thoughtful way, and it deadens our desire for what matters most.
Brad Stulberg writes, “Patience is not passive. It’s active acceptance, a willingness to be with what is and stay the course.” In a culture that celebrates fast results, practicing patience invites us to pause and realize that lasting progress toward personal growth often comes not from rushing forward, but from slowing down.
So how does this look when deadlines loom, inboxes overflow, and everything feels urgent?
- Resist the urge to multitask or rush through a task. Instead, focus on one thing at a time, and give it your full attention.
- Try noticing when impatience arises as you’re sitting in traffic or waiting in a long line, and treat it as a cue to check in with yourself: how can I use this moment?
- Plan “buffer space” in your day between meetings or tasks where you can pause, reflect, and reset.
It sounds small, but these micro-moments of patience can be game-changers for clarity and calm. Imagine what this could do for your work and relationships!
If you suspect you’d rather shock yourself than reset your perspective, it might be time to reach out to a DREAM4 Coach. Let us help!
