I have been thinking a lot about patience and acceptance lately.
The practice of patience is truly all about balance and practice, and practice makes perfect…right? Perfection can be quite a tall order. An aspiration I actually don’t think I wish to obtain.
The challenge of accepting where we are at currently in the big scope of our lives requires patience. So often we are overly focused on what we believe to be “needs” like; what needs to be done, what we need to complete, what we need to say, where we need to be. We lose focus on the beauty of what is. Some would say that it is best to live life to the fullest each and every day….others would say that a life in that direction is a wasted life, and others yet would say we should never lose sight of what was, and learn from our mistakes.
Well…Let’s see… A recent conversation in one of my workshops kind of addresses this. We were talking about being aware, learning to understand things that come up within our introspection. The conversation shifted on the discussing the importance of balancing our past our present and our future. We talked about how important it is to come to the understanding that the acceptance of all three is critical, for we cannot have one without the other. You also cannot live solely out the perspective of just one of them.
Let me see if some examples will help.
Dwellers of the past
Tend to be regretful, remorseful, and long for what was. Constantly tell stories of how things used to be. Have a really hard time accepting change as well as technology. Their minds tend to be set on predetermined or based off of pre-lived experiences only. Dwellers of the past are not always fun to be around because they tend to be slightly pessimistic and can seem stuck in life (as if they are not moving forward). Living solely from this frame of mind and you will not move forward, life will stay where it is.
Dwellers of the present
Tend to live just in the now. They can sometimes seem the life of the party, always having fun, taking nothing serious. they are fun to be around for periods of time. They can at times lead reckless lives. Never plan for anything. Eventually this focus will either keep them on the proverbial treadmill of life always in motion but really never going anywhere or staying just where they are. Living solely from this frame of mind you will eventually put yourself in the past. To stand steadfast in one place will eventually put you in the past and no longer in the present. Nothing living stands still, stops moving or growing.
Dwellers of the Future
Tend to be living always for tomorrow. Constantly focused on what can be. Focused on what will happen when… They can appear dreamy and unrealistic. They are often caught thinking about the what if’s in life. Coming up with ideas only to come up with a new one or another one. Always wanting to share the latest and greatest plan. Dreamers and visionaries, they are very inspiring people. They believe anything is possible, however they are always planning and never really seem to accomplish what they set out to accomplish (for the plan is always changing, before they even start it). Living with your site always on whats ahead of you, doesn’t allow you to enjoy what you have, or what you learn. To constantly think of a new way or better way forces you to never step forward in the physical form ( and that is what we are a physical of energy).
The goal I am sure you can already see is to find balance. To live with the past and in the present to create a new future. We need to be patient with our growth, our lives, and where we are along our path of life. Within the patience we need acceptance. We need to accept where we are, as well as all that is that makes us different. It is a constant focus this balance of acceptance of our past self, present self as well as the future self. Each essence as important as the other. Understanding that any one alone in excess would be dangerous.
Ultimately the key is balance, not shutting out or off a facet of ourselves. Everything in our life is about balance. Patience is no different…the key to patience is balance as well. Knowing when too much turns in to apathy and indifference and when not enough invokes arrogance and righteousness.
Eventually, acceptance of what is and patience in what is to be, creates harmony. Harmony within our spirits and our souls. We become active participants in our lives, we no longer focus on the past or blame others. We learn to assume ownership in our growth, our successes, failures and our enrichment.
What comes to you when you think of patience and acceptance?
I would love to hear!
Namaste~
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