The invitation this week is to be totally mindful of your thoughts regarding getting something done quickly. Become aware in the moment of any and all situations when you become impatient; when you want to get whatever you are doing in the moment over with quickly.
For example, when you’re driving, notice if there are situations where you say to yourself (or even out loud):
“Can’t that driver ahead of me go a little faster?”
Or situations where you are waiting for a friend to return a phone call or return an email and you say to yourself in your thoughts over and over again,
“Why doesn’t he return my call? Why doesn’t she return my email? I’m ready to hear from them now.”
Or, perhaps you are out in the yard doing a little yard work. Your thoughts are,
“I can’t wait for this task and this chore to be done so I do the fourth chore on my list. I will never be done with all my chores if I don’t finish this one in 10 minutes.”
Now I have another suggestion for you. Each time during the day when you are able to acknowledge, recognize and observe there is a situation where you are impatient, when you want something to get over quickly for whatever reason, I have a very simple two-word question that I’d like to suggest you ask yourself:
“Then what?”
In other words, when I am done doing what I am doing right now, when I have finished this task,
“Then what?”
Enjoy your opportunity this week to observe any and all situations when you find that you have become impatient. I have been doing this task myself all week and am surprised by how many times I find myself being impatient. I would have told you last week that I am a very patient person, but this week?
Robert
© Parkinsons Recovery