A Little Self Discovery...

I am one of those people who pride myself on being a very patient person, but recently I have started to think that maybe I am not as patient as I once thought I was. I first started to notice this when I put in for a specific job with a company that I am not going to name. I had all the right connections with this company so I thought that everything was going to be open and shut. After I had my first contact with the company I felt like everything was going to move quick, but it seems like everything right now is in a holding pattern.

With every other job that I have put in for it seemed like I sent my information and just left it up to them. But with this job it seems like I am checking e-mail and looking at my phone all the time. There were times when I was told that I would hear something by a certain day and when I didn't I would freak out. I would also have the same reaction when I sent my contact an e-mail and I never heard anything back. Every time this would happen Mom would look at me and tell me that I was inpatient and I would always argue back and tell her that she was wrong.

Today and friend of mine at work came over and asked me if I would like to read the March issue of Self Magazine. With having some down time at work I accepted and started going through the magazine. Not too far into reading I came across the Self Expression article and the title was "Hate to Wait?" Being intrigued by the article I began to read.

When I first started to read the article I thought to myself if this isn't me, but the more I read the more it was like looking into  a mirror. So they had a few questions in the magazine to answer to see if you are considered to be impatient:

Q: Do you get upset when you have to wait?
A: My answer was it all depends on the situation. But most of the time I would have to answer yes.

Q: Do you feel pressure at the end of the workday?
A: No, I typically don't.

Q: Do you think about other things while listening to someone else talk?
A: Sadly I do.

Q: Do you become irritated when driving and end up swearing at others on the road?
A: Again, sadly I do.

Q: Do slow-moving incompetent clerks upset you?
A: My answer to this one is no, but that is because I have worked in customer service professions and I would not want to be treated that way, so I don't treat them that way.

My score wasn't as bad as the woman in the article, but I still can't say that it was the best. As I continued to read I found a quote that I have copied down for my own use, it is:

"Waiting with patience means actively accepting the current circumstances and giving up the illusion that you can control the world."

I have to say that I am glad that I got the chance to read this article. After reading this I decided that I am going to start practicing patience. So today is Day 1 and so far it is going well, let's see how this goes!