Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.
~ Heraclitus
The phrase “Patience is a virtue” has often been a thorn in my side, akin to the comical plea for immediate patience: “God, give me patience and give it to me NOW.” This struggle became evident during my first ceramics class. At this stage of life, I sought new creative outlets for growth and fulfillment. However, my ceramics instructor, Esther, quickly taught me that pottery is not about instant satisfaction. As a recovering “type A” personality, her words—”This is going to require some patience”—were precisely what I dreaded. While my inner mindfulness coach nodded knowingly, the eager nine-year-old boy within me was ready to dive into the gooey clay.
Under Esther’s calm guidance, I learned to center the clay and open it on the spinning wheel. Things went smoothly until I hurriedly tried to shape the bowl, causing it to wobble. Esther’s gentle reminder to slow down and exercise patience was crucial, as rushing would ruin the shape of the fragile clay. Thankfully, taking my time allowed me to create my first bowl.
Yet, the lesson in patience continued. After my initial success, Esther said, “Nice work! Next week, you can do step two.” Geeez, I thought. The notion of waiting another week to progress was frustrating. Patience was clearly a lesson I needed to learn. In week two, I trimmed the bowl and signed it, preparing for its first firing. More waiting ensued. By week three, we glazed and prepped the bowl for its final firing. In the fourth week, I finally enjoyed my granola and berries from my freshly completed creation. The process taught me that delayed gratification is a valuable price for learning and creation.
THE TAKE AWAY: Consider where patience is needed in your life, particularly self-patience.
Whether learning or creating, patience bridges the start, middle, and end of any journey.
Embracing patience can reveal the link between impatience and the desire for instant gratification. A novice doesn’t become a master overnight; like clay, it takes time to shape our lives. Recognizing this timeline is crucial. Mastery involves the wisdom of patience, creating room for genuine passion and talent to emerge.
So, how can we cultivate patience? I’ve learned the mindfulness practice of “high involvement and low attachment.” This involves being fully present in the moment while releasing attachment to the outcome, letting it develop naturally. This practice transcends the need for immediate results by aligning mind and body in the present, where joy and action meet. Patience encourages us to embrace the moment and engage with the metaphoric clay of life, shaping it to reflect our true selves. The beauty is, we don’t have to be a ten-year-old child to do this; we just need to be sure to clean up our mess!
