Patience and Persistence: The Pillars of Success
Let us all discuss “Waiting “ or “Patience,” something we all experience at some point.
Whether you’re anticipating the realisation of a dream, the achievement of a goal, or the reward of your hard work, we all experience this inevitable period where things don’t happen as quickly as we would like.
But here’s the truth: waiting is not just a passive state. It’s an opportunity. It’s a crucial part of your journey that, if embraced, can transform not just your outcomes but who you become in the process.
Let’s explore this often misunderstood aspect of life—waiting—and how it can become your greatest strength.
The Waiting Period: More Than Just Time Passing
There will be times in your life when you have to wait. But I’m not talking about your waiting in traffic or at the supermarket.
No, I’m talking about the waiting period between the time you plant a seed and when you harvest it. It’s when you first conceive an idea, work hard to bring it to life, and finally see the results.
This period is critical. Many people give up here. They lose hope because the results aren’t immediate. They lose faith in the process and, unfortunately, abandon their dreams.
But let me tell you something — this is where the real test lies. This is where patience, resilience, and belief in yourself become more critical than ever.
The Universe Has Its Timetable
One of the first things to remember is that the universe doesn’t operate on your timetable. It has its rhythm.
Just as it takes nine months for a child to be born, no matter how much you wish to speed it up, some things in life take time. You cannot rush nature’s processes.
And no amount of effort or intensity can alter this.
There’s a saying I love: “Nine women can’t give birth to a baby in one month.” No matter how much cooperation or effort you put in, some things take time.
The universe doesn’t care about how hard you work or how quickly you want results. It has its schedule, and you must respect that.
The story of Chinese bamboo
The Chinese bamboo tree is an incredible example of patience and perseverance.
When you plant the seed of a Chinese bamboo tree, you have to water and care for it consistently. For an entire year, nothing happens. The second year passes, and no growth appears above the ground.
The same occurs during the third and fourth years — no sign of progress exists.
By this time, many people would give up.
After all, who would continue to nurture something that shows no visible growth for four years?
But here’s where the lesson of the Chinese bamboo comes in.
In the fifth year, something remarkable happens. The bamboo tree begins to grow, and not just a little bit. In weeks, it shoots up to over 90 feet tall!
All that growth happens seemingly overnight, but it had been prepared all along. During those first four years, while you saw nothing on the surface, the bamboo grew underground with solid roots.
It was developing the foundation it needed to support its tremendous growth.
The story of the Chinese bamboo teaches us that even when we don’t see immediate results, our efforts are not in vain. Like the bamboo, we, too, must stay patient and keep nurturing our dreams.
Growth takes time, and the most important work often happens below the surface, where no one can see it.
All that preparation will lead to a breakthrough when the time is right.
Embracing the Process: Focus on What You Can Control
So, what should you do during this waiting period? The answer is simple — focus on the process. One of the most excellent teachings from the Bhagavad Gita is to detach from the outcome.
You’ll likely lose sight of the journey if you’re always fixated on the end result. You won’t try your best because your mind constantly wonders, “When will I see the results?”
Instead, focus on what you can control — the process. Understand that there’s a built-in buffer of time before the results of your efforts show up.
And trust me, this time is here for a reason. It allows growth, not just of your work but of yourself.
Life is Not a Straight Line: Be Flexible
Another essential thing to realise is that life is not a straight line from point A to point B. You may have a plan, but the universe often throws twists and turns.
And that’s okay. As an old Chinese proverb says, “What makes the gods laugh? It’s men making plans.”
But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan. It means you must be flexible and adapt when things don’t go according to your perfect roadmap.
Success isn’t about walking a straight path. It’s about adjusting and moving forward, even when the way ahead seems unclear.
Water Deepens Where It Waits: The Power of Patience
There’s a beautiful quote by Professor James Richardson that goes, “Water deepens where it has to wait.” This idea resonates deeply with me because it speaks to the essence of patience.
Just like water that gathers power as it waits, you, too, can use your waiting period to become stronger.
Think about it. You can use this time to deepen your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and grow. This waiting period isn’t meant to dishearten you. Instead, it’s meant to build you up.
It’s your opportunity to become more powerful so that when the time comes, you are ready to break through with the full force of everything you’ve gained during this period.
I once visited the Hoover Dam, an awe-inspiring marvel of engineering.
The dam harnesses the power of water that has been made to wait, bringing life to the Nevada desert.
Like that water, your strength will build as you wait, and you will move forward with unstoppable force when the time is right.
Patience is Courage Over Time
Another quote by Professor Richardson that I love is this: “Patience is not different from courage; it just takes a little longer.”
Patience is like courage running a marathon. Anyone can muster up courage in short bursts, but true strength lies in having the patience to persist when the finish line seems far away.
Patience isn’t about passively waiting; it’s about maintaining faith and working hard even when the results are not immediately visible.
It’s about enduring, staying strong, and working through uncertainty.
Work Harder During the Waiting Period
So, here’s my message to you. If you’re in that waiting period right now — waiting for your hard work to pay off, a new job, an opportunity, or your circumstances to change — don’t let that time go to waste. Use it.
Work harder during the wait. While others may lose hope, you must persist.
You must have faith. It’s easy to work when the results are visible, but it takes strength when everything is uncertain. Those who can persevere through the waiting period will transform their lives.
In Closing: The Breakthrough is Just Around the Corner
Before I finish, let me leave you with a few lines from the poem Don’t Quit:
“You can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things go wrong that you must not quit.”
The wait, my friends, is not your enemy.
It’s your ally. It’s making you stronger and more capable and preparing you for future opportunities. Maybe your breakthrough is just around the corner.
So keep going, stay patient, and let the waiting period shape you into someone who can achieve great things.
