Are We There Yet?
Change sucks. Strike that. Waiting for change, sucks. Once we know we want something, we want it instantly. We don’t want to wait for graduation, for choice clients, to buy a house, to find a new relationship. We want what we want and we want it NOW.
In our road rage, fast food, IM society, impatience is an acceptable state of being. I drive through, I honk and I text, but I also know what’s behind my own impatience for change: fear. When change doesn’t come about as fast as I’d like it to I get edgy because down deep I expect that it will never happen.
Impatience is the underlying, nasty fear that we’ll never make it, that we’re banking our hopes on a pipe dream, or that we don’t have what it takes to pull all of the big win.
Being impatient for change, not waiting for change is what REALLY sucks. Here’s why:
1. Impatience Reveals Disbelief – If you believed wholeheartedly in the change you want to see, would you be fearful that it may never happen? Nope. You’d do what you have to do and then kick back, secure in the knowledge – the absolute certainty – that the change you want was coming your way.
Disbelief kills more brilliant ideas and grand plans than all the smashed trailers in tornado alley. And certitude, well, it paves the way for greatness. If you’re impatient about manifesting change, it speaks to a larger issue of uncertainty. Get a handle on it, and fast.
2. Impatience Causes Stress – Surprise! Impatient people are stressed out. I mean, really, REALLY stressed out. You’re irritated, anxious, and in constant need of reassurance, which in turn, stresses out those around you. Do you really need a lesson in the negative consequences of stress? Good. Just cut it out.
3. Impatience Leads to Early Withdrawal – Look, if you’re impatient, insecure, and basically stressed out with worry, you’re going to bail. You won’t be able to sustain this emotional level long enough to manifest the change, so you’ll cut your losses and prove yourself right – you knew you’d never get what you wanted all along. Happy now?
Transformation takes time. When I learned to shift my focus from impatient waiting to anticipation, it all changed for me. No more fear, no more worry, no more stress, which left room for me to take action.
Transformation also requires endurance. Expect a positive outcome but prepare for a long trip complete with detours, potholes, and traffic jams. Stop saying, “Are we there yet?” and start enjoying the ride. There’s some beautiful scenery out there, man.
Tags: are we there, entrepreneur drive, Focus, toilet paper entrepreneur
November 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Thanks for this “timely” message, Mike.
–Dave C.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Great advice as always Mike. And just in time too.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I did not realize until I read your post that I tend to often feel impatient when it comes to my own progress. Most of the time I am able to step back and enjoy the moment but I never really realized that I was shifting into anticipation rather than impatience. Anticipation is much more pleasant state. Sometimes it takes someone else reminding us to stay aware of our thoughts to keep things in perspective.
November 19th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Change is one of those funny things because it is kind of like the best and worst time of your life all bundled into one. It is the best time of your life because of what you said…anticipation…knowing what is coming around the corner and all the great things that are yet to be. Yet it is the worse time because no matter how bad the situation is we realize that we are leaving something we are familiar with.
Going into this new world we are often struck with confusion and caution because we feel naive or that we don’t know all the answers. So instead we never change, we just stay our path. I think that Delatorro McNeal said it best when he stated:
Life is too short to wait…but too long to settle.
@teenbizcoach