Stoicism and Patience; How to Become More Patient in Your Success Journey
Patience is a virtue that is WAY too difficult to master. If you’re reading this, you might (most likely) be wanting to become a rich MF that flaunts his cash & buys Lambos for his cousin’s dog.
I’m partially joking…
The most popular niche for articles on Medium is about making money passively, online most likely. People are interested in making a living by building something that generates income in a passive way.
The problem is that for you to start generating income passively there is a LONG ACTIVE part of it that is BUILDING the product, service, business, channel, or whatever you chose to try and make your fortune online.
This step requires something very important- patience.
What is Patience
Patience is the virtue (yes, a virtue) to endure difficult or unpleasant circumstances without getting angry or upset. Highly valued in many cultures, patience is often implied in delaying gratification for a greater reward in the future.
That last part is what interests me and the Stoics, and what I’ll be trying to demystify in this article.
‘‘It is very strange that the years teach us patience-that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting’’ — Elizabeth Taylor
The Stoic view on patience
The Stoic philosophy believes that patience is a virtue that is essential for living a good life. Patience is the ability to accept difficult or unpleasant circumstances without being consumed by negative emotions, particularly despair.
Most of life is not going to be easy and a lot of time and effort are needed to reach the goals that are worth achieving.
Patience is needed for this
The Stoics also believed that patience was closely linked to wisdom. By cultivating patience, we can learn to see the bigger picture and understand that difficult circumstances are often temporary and that they can be opportunities for growth and learning.
How can I become more Patient?
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present at the moment, without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, we can learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without being consumed by them.
Practice acceptance
Acceptance is the practice of acknowledging and accepting difficult or unpleasant circumstances without trying to change them. By practicing acceptance, we can learn to see difficult circumstances as opportunities for growth and learning.
Practice gratitude.
Gratitude is the practice of focusing on the good things in our lives, rather than dwelling on the negative. By practicing gratitude, we can learn to appreciate what we have and to find joy and contentment in the present moment.
Practice self-reflection.
Self-reflection is the practice of examining our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to gain insight into ourselves. By practicing self-reflection, we can learn to identify the sources of our impatience and develop strategies for managing it.
Key Takeaways from this Article
Patience is a virtue that is the hardest to accomplish. By its very nature, it takes time (lots of it) to understand and to be patient.
The Stoics had a unique perspective on patience, seeing it as the ability to accept difficult or unpleasant circumstances without being consumed by negative emotions. By practicing mindfulness, acceptance, gratitude, and self-reflection, we can cultivate this valuable virtue in our daily lives.
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