A Word About Patience
A Word About Patience (and the Subtle Art of Letting Go When You’d Really Rather Not)
The great Lao Tzu once said, “Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” And on a good day, I believe him.
But then there are those other days. Like recently, when I found myself ruminating over something an old friend had apparently said about me—something sharp, unkind, and hard to un-hear. I could feel the heat rising. A little resentment here, a little internal monologue over there (“Really? After everything?”), and before long, I was drafting responses in my head that—thankfully—never saw the light of day.
The temptation to react was strong. But something in me whispered: Don’t.
Not because I’m above it. But because I’ve learned—over and over—that responding from that place rarely leads to anything good. Certainly not peace.
So instead, I paused. I sat with the discomfort. And I asked myself what I was really feeling underneath it all: hurt, sadness, and—if I’m honest—a flicker of fear that maybe her words were true.
That’s when I remembered something I’ve been working on lately (thank you, Judgment Detox): that forgiveness isn’t about saying someone was right. It’s about freeing myself from the grip of needing them to see it my way.
And that’s where patience—real, grounded, I’m-doing-the-work patience—came in.
Patience with the process.
Patience with my own emotional weather.
Patience with people who may never understand me.
There was a time in my life, especially during my divorce, when I had zero tolerance for sitting with uncertainty. I wanted answers, now. I made decisions in fear that I’d give anything to redo.
But these days, I know that clarity often waits for calm. That not everything needs to be fixed right away. That it’s okay to release something that isn’t mine to hold.
If you’re in a season of reaction, judgment, or emotional swirl—and you’re craving a little more peace—I get it. Truly. And if you’re ready to explore how patience (and maybe a little perspective shift) could make all the difference, let’s talk.
No pressure. No pretense. Just a thoughtful conversation about what’s next for you.
Because sometimes the most powerful move isn’t a reaction—it’s a return to yourself.
