If ever there was a time to practice patience, this is it.
It feels like the entire planet has been struggling to spin with the handbrake on for most of this year, and we are still faced with uncertainty every day. More than ever, planning ahead for the future seems pointless when all we have is right here, right now. Nothing to do, and nowhere to go.
Faced with the unsettling waves of uncertainty, many of us are coming to the realisation that instead of planning for the future, all we can do is take care of things right now. It's really the ultimate gift of self-care. For many people, not knowing when the world will open up again, allowing unrestricted movement for friends, family and businesses to be reconnected, it's a matter of 'watch, wait and see'.
Cultivating and practicing patience was once considered an art. Now it's an absolute survival tool if we are to find peace with all the changes we are currently dealing with. Although it might feel like a good option at the time, no amount of huffing and puffing is going to 'fix' things. All that will do is increase levels of stress, anxiety and suffering. So let's all take a collective deep breath in, and simply sit tight. Better still, just let it go, and relaaax.
If you are goal focused, and used to planning ahead by planting a few sparkling travel gems and projects on the horizon to make the future seem more enticing, then chances are you are currently suffering from a different kind of pandemic altogether. It's called Impatience. The symptoms can range from shortness of breath, a racing mind, chewed fingernails, restlessness and itchy feet.
So what causes impatience, and how do we 'catch' it?
Basically it starts with an uncomfortable feeling, a sort of vague niggling that you are not happy where you are right now, and want to get something or somewhere else. You may or may not know where you are headed, but it's somewhere up ahead. Anywhere but here.
It may feel like you have a persistent itch that needs scratching, but your hands are tied.
To paint a picture, imagine you are sitting at the dinner table, and as you gaze down into your plate all you feel is disappointment and boredom. You know that some deep inner yearning needs addressing, but you just don't know how to feed it. These stirrings can quickly turn to feelings of frustration, annoyance and sometimes even disappointment about what is on your plate. So you go to the cupboard and blindly reach in for something else. Anything.
You may even start hatching an escape plan, or an act of trickery to make things disappear off your plate altogether. Things you just don't want to deal with right now. If only I didn't have to do this or that, consume this or that, then everything would be ok. Sound familiar?
I remember as a child being told to finish all my dinner or there would be no dessert. My quick answer was to tip whatever was left on my plate down my pyjama pants. Voila! Instant solution to a tedious problem. Impatience feeding resourcefulness at the tender age of four!
As I grew older I learnt that the emptiness in my belly could never be filled no matter how many future ice-creams I dreamt of. I also learnt that by slowing down and savouring every simple bite, my entire dining experience was so much more enjoyable.
Practicing yoga and mindfulness has also taught me to really sink into everyday, ordinary life itself, and to flourish.
Learning to slow down and live more mindfully in each moment is perhaps the biggest lesson we are being taught right now. Patiently creating space for everything to unfold in its own time, instead of getting caught up in future plans brings true meaning and cultivates contentment rather than disappointment. Instead of looking to put more on our plate, we are being shown to really enjoy what's there. Living mindfully helps us to override feelings of impatience, dissatification and overall unhappiness.
So what is Mindfulness?
You may have already heard this term being sprinkled into the world of health and wellbeing? Basically it means to pay attention to what's happening now. I mean really pay attention, like your life depended on it. Because in fact it does!
It's about learning to slow down and notice all the details with a sense of curiosity and acceptance of what you find. Rather than looking for something else, it means to patiently absorb everything as it is, and be okay with it all. Not trying to wriggle and squirm, change or rush through anything is how Mindfulness brings inner peace. It's a kind of informal and formal way of meditating.
Mindfulness is a lot more than just a meditation practice though. It is a holistic way of living life that brings so many benefits with it. The best I can describe it is like crawling down a dark tunnel, then suddenly stepping outside to a wonderful panoramic view.
When we live more mindfully, we feel more patient with everything and everyone. It turns do-ing into be-ing, and time seems to disappear altogether.
And it's deceptively easy to practice.
Simply by slowing down and taking a few deep breaths, you are cultivating present moment awareness and the grace of patience. You may come to the realisation that the quality of the future really does depend on how much each moment is savoured, by really tasting each tiny morsal now.
Perhaps if we can learn anything at all from this unusually challenging year, it's this...drum roll...
Life is happening NOW! That's really all the guarantees we have. Who knows what the future will bring us?
If you are still having trouble getting your teeth around it, ask yourself this simple question,
If not now, when?
Before I go, here are my favourite remedies to combat the impatience bug.
Seven Simple Steps to Live more Patiently Now:
Get to know your impatient self - Try to notice the moment you are getting hooked by the urge to run off somewhere else. Notice physical sensations and shifts in your mind and body, such as shallow breathing, teeth clenching, nail biting, fidgeting and tiredness.
Take Care of You - Check if your basic needs are being met, such as hunger, thirst, enough sleep and fresh air. Do you feel safe? These core needs can often trigger emotional disturbances if not taken care of first and foremost.
Breathe - Take three deep breaths, and really emphasise the feeling of letting go as you exhale. This is a simple but powerful way of releasing tension, and coming back to the present moment.
Move your Body - Step out of your head. Do something you love right now. Go outside for a walk, run, dance, sing, laugh, practice yoga, clean the windows. Just move your body without thinking.
Say Thank You - Notice what is good about being right here right now. Be grateful for the small things, such as having fresh water, air to breathe, people in your life who care for you, and a device in your hand that instantly connects you to the whole world. Make space for Grace.
Nothing Stays the Same - Know that even if you are feeling stuck or a little trapped by your current circumstances, things will eventually change. The law of impermanence means that 'this too will pass'. No matter how much you stamp your feet and complain, the future won't come any quicker. You may as well enjoy the journey. You'll get there when you are meant to. Or maybe you have arrived already?
Find Meaning and Purpose - Step out of your sense of 'I', 'Me' and 'Mine', and do something for someone else instead. At the very least reach out for a chat with a friend. Know that we are all human, and it's normal to struggle sometimes. Feeling like you belong where you are is a very important part of living a happy life.
Okay, are you getting a tad restless?
Ciao for now. Thanks for your patience!
Next time you are feeling impatient, and restless about the future remember the mantra,
"If not Now, when?". Live your best life now.
If you would like to learn more about our current offerings of Yoga, Mindfulness, Meditation and Breathwork, as well as snippets from our simple life in nature, then please connect by message or subscribe to our mailing list.
We also run regular Yoga classes, Massage, Sound healing and Workshops in the Noosa Hinterland.
Sending lots of patience and peace from our quiet home in nature.
Namaste,
Danielle & Tony ( Frankie & Georgie) xx
#sundariwellbeing #simplelife #beherenow #mindfulness #bepatient #thefutureisnow
"Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu."
May all beings everywhere be happy and free. May my thoughts, words and actions in some way contribute to that happiness and freedom for all.
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