Hey 20-somethings — it’s Kristen here. In the spirit of openness, I’m going to let you in on something that I’m not particularly proud to admit.
I am NOT a patient person.
While I’m rarely impatient with other people, I often get restless when it takes longer than expected to reach goals or milestones in my life.
Sure, I’ve learned a ton of strategies to help me build more patience and trust universal timing, and it’s starting to come more naturally. But it still takes plenty of awareness on a regular basis.
I’m willing to bet most of you have experienced this kind of impatience before, too.
Sure, we all logically understand the value of exercising patience and delayed gratification, but it can be seriously frustrating. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever stop wanting what I want this instant, but I’ve gotten a lot more conscious about reframing my impatient thoughts so they feel less exasperating.
Here’s what I believe: The reason you don’t always get what you want exactly when you ask for it is that, we as humans need contrast. Without contrast, nothing would ever feel positive or negative — our lives would just be one long string of neutral experiences.
Let’s be real — if you really want something (an amazing relationship, your dream job, the money and freedom to travel, etc.), then there’s no force in this world that can stop you from wanting it. And that’s a good thing! It brings excitement and motivation and passion to life.
And although you may doubt it from time to time, the fact that you’re drawn to certain things means that you’re meant to experience them (even if they don’t show up exactly the way you imagined). But this in-between time is critical for you to fully enjoy your desire once it comes into your life. You need to experience not having it for a little while so you can fully appreciate it once it’s here. And the anticipation can be a delicious feeling all on it’s own, if you allow yourself to let go of the timing.
So instead of lamenting the fact that you don’t have the relationship/the promotion/ the money/the body already, how can you become grateful for this experience of not having it … yet.
Added bonus: Feeling grateful and peaceful in this moment will likely bring you what you want even faster because you’ll be radiating positivity to everyone you encounter, which will naturally open up new opportunities.
Where in your life are you feeling impatient? Leave us a comment to let us know.
Much Love,
Kristen (& Rachel)
