A woman called my office last week. Actually, she called three times in a 30-minute period. She left three messages, with a snide comment on the last voice mail message, pissed that I had not returned her calls (ironically, she was calling about taking a stress management instructor workshop). My goodness! Sociologists have noted that we live in the age of immediate gratification where everyone is accessible 24/7 (well, not everyone, smile). Under the illusion that we live in an on-demand society, frustrations will certainly mount when one’s level of gratification is not met. This frustration is called the “death of expectations,” and anger becomes one of the first stages of the grieving process. When you hear people voicing their anger, it is very likely that they are grieving something, most likely the death of an unmet expectation. It is likely that the abundance of technology, communication and information sharing will lead to more frustration when people decide not to play the game of 24/7 on demand living (which by the way is not a sustainable way to live if you are on the receiving end of it). Ultimately, it is ego that demands the selfish me-first attitude. Where there is ego, there is stress. It can become a vicious cycle. It’s time to break the cycle.
Stress Tip for the Day
Time to recalibrate your expectations. Patience is certainly a virtue, as well as a skill that needs to be employed on a regular basis. Are you a patient person? More than just a good driving skill, patience is realizing that you are not the most important person in the world. With patience, humbleness should be exercised. So… when you find yourself at the grocery check out line, or the post office or anywhere where there are others in a rush, let them go, and reside in the stillness of egoless compassion.
Links, Books and/or Movies Worth Noting:
Here is a link on the art of mastering better patience: Enjoy!
http://www.inc.com/john-baldoni/the-secret-to-mastering-patience.html
Quote for the Day:
“Humility is attentive patience.”—Simon Wiel
“Our patience will achieve more than our force.” Edmund Burke
Photo For the Day
In thinking of what photo to use for the topic of patience, one immediately came to mind, that of a chickadee perched on my hand…. It takes great patience to have this happen, but certainly worth the wait. Enjoy!
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 12 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (7e) and the newly released, A Beautiful World: The Earth Song Journals. He can be reached through his website: www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
