A skill so difficult to learn that only comes with experience, is patience. Patience comes in many forms and can be such a powerful accessory in reshaping your destiny. That is a very over exaggerated world view yes and it makes sense if you view your life as a by product of cause and effect. Dwell on it, so many decisions you make, big or small, branch out into different trees of experiences and sequences of events. Who would you be had you decided not to pursue study, or a trade. What interests you? Why are you passionate about the things you are passionate about? Would you even like that subject if you never met that one teacher? Little details like that are what makes humans so fascinating.

How does that relate to sleep and patience you may ask. Well, if you are impulsive like I was in the past, you may act on emotions and be quick to share good news, or quick to say what comes to your mind. Just one extra day, before saying what you want to say, could steer the course of the events that follow astronomically. Its like a pilot jumping in a plane heading to Indonesia from Sydney, if he launches one or two degrees off course, he will end up in the wrong country. That’s how much little decisions can impact our greater life. The best advice my old man gave me when I was going through more major life changes as my 20s rolled in was “sleep on it”. Such a basic paradigm so open to interpretation, but so essential. Some things are best left unsaid, or unexplained in the heat of the moment.

I am grateful I realised this eventually before taking on a more challenging career. People will test you, and emotions can run high and will affect our perspective eventually. If I receive an email or text that I perceive to be annoying, my impulse is instantly rebuttal, or trying to prove a point. But that just doesn’t serve you long term, it only serves your ego in the moment. In business and relationships you want to always go for the WIN/WIN approach as Stephen R. Covey explains in his notable book the 7 habits of highly effective people. The WIN/WIN approach is when you let emotions go and decide based on mental clarity. Emotional decision making will be your downfall in the long run if you do not learn to exercise patience, and it will lead to regret. Whether you come to an agreement or disagreement isn’t relevant, as long as you made a decision calmy and from a clear head. The only way to do that, is to sleep on things.

It’s a good habit, and as you get better at it you wont always need a whole 24 hours to respond, it isn’t practical in every detail of your life. However, it is a good place to start. You’re angry now? Take a walk then come back home and hash it out. An email rubbed you the wrong way? Go grab a coffee, chill for an hour then respond. Patience is a virtue. And bigger decisions, sleep on them. You can change the course of 10 years from a wrong word or decision, so tread carefully my friends.

All the best

H