The Art Of Infinite Patience
“The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” ― Paulo Coelho
What are you wishing for in your life right now? Take a moment to think about your desires and consider how you would feel if they had already happened. That is, focus on the feelings of your desires coming to life, e.g. excitement, joy, relief, etc. You may even close your eyes and visualise having received what you want and connect with the feelings of your desires.
Here’s the thing: when we practise infinite patience, what we need will flow to us naturally, without the pain associated with it. I realise it’s hard to believe, but I’m not presenting anything new here but reminding you of ancient wisdom that has been alive for thousands of centuries. Allow me to expand on this further. When we don’t get what we want, we experience emotional pain and suffering. But the moment we get what we want, the pain and suffering is eased. So, how does getting what we want diminish our pain and suffering when earlier we experienced emotional turmoil? It’s because we believe our thoughts and not having what we want becomes the root cause of our suffering.
I understand why people would respond this way, especially if they are not acquainted with universal laws and principles. But if we study ancient wisdom such as Buddhism, Stoicism or other Eastern philosophies, we will realise our thoughts are projections based on an inaccurate perception of what is missing from our life. In other words, the degree to which we suffer lies in our capacity to see through what is lacking in our life. It requires being at peace with having or not having our desires met. This is a difficult concept to grasp because desires are powerful and can cause prolonged suffering if we don’t understand them properly. Similarly, it is impractical to suggest we avoid having any desires, but it is better to propose we can be happy regardless of whether our desires are met.
Are you comfortable with this understanding so far? Could you entertain the idea that it is not what you desire that causes pain and suffering, but how you contextualise it? Therefore, the antidote to ease our pain and suffering is to practise patience and detach from our desires. I’m suggesting we become comfortable having or not having our needs met. For instance, have you wanted something so badly and experienced heartache because you didn’t have it? Then suddenly, you lost interest in your desire because you believed you wouldn’t get what you want. You lose hope and not long after, your desire manifests better than you imagined? I have had this happen frequently, hence why I have learned to detach from how and when my desires will be fulfilled.
The Value Of Detachment
“Detachment doesn’t mean you don’t let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That’s how you are able to leave it.” — Mitch Albom
Moreover, I have learnt to practise the art of detachment and be patient because both principles are essential to having our desires fulfilled. In ancient wisdom, it is suggested when we have a desire, assuming it is not to hurt someone, the desire is already created in the non-physical realm. So, being irrational creatures that we are, we go looking for evidence of our desires. If it is not taking place as we hope for, we suffer. Furthermore, our thoughts of lack cancel our initial desires because a negative thought is a request to the universe. Expressed differently: we must get out of our own way and stop focusing on how and when our desires will be fulfilled. We can do this by inhabiting the space of patience, knowing what we need will make its way into our life naturally, without the pain associated with it.
What I am expressing here requires practice, of course. It requires self-enquiry and writing in a journal or diary to see whether we are moving in the right direction. It involves understanding the true nature of our desires. It is why self-improvement and personal growth are proportionate to what we are willing to receive. In other words, the more we grow as individuals, the greater we receive because we let go of any sense of lack and doubt. We become comfortable with paradox, ambiguity, and the unknown aspects of life. We learn to co-create with the forces of life and if something doesn’t go our way; we observe it with detachment, so we can create a better version of our desires.
Is this idea resonating with you? Could you give yourself the gift of practising patience and detaching from how and when your desires will come to life? What is more, could you become a student of life and notice the ebb and flow of creation taking place through you? If you answered yes to these questions, you are on the right path to becoming a conscious creator and living a destiny beyond your wildest dreams. It starts by observing your thoughts and feelings about your reality. It is why I often ask you, the reader, to write in your diary or journal at the end of each article to help you understand yourself better. In doing so, you let go of limiting beliefs, past conditioning and outdated paradigms, to arrive at an authentic version of yourself in line with your desires.
Considering this, I invite you to take some time and write in your journal or diary what you’ve been wishing for in your life recently? Why do you want these things? What would they offer you? Who would you become by having your desires fulfilled? Would there be personal growth involved? The universe favours growth and expansion, and if a desire is selfish and does not contribute to the greatest good of all, the chances of it coming to life are reduced. But if our desires are vested in love, appreciation, gratitude, and cooperation, the likelihood of it becoming a reality increases. So, I invite you to focus on these qualities when you have a desire. After all, it is when you practise patience, your desires will effortlessly flow into your life, without pain and suffering accompanying it.
