Daily Wisdom Words it is a writer's community
“Happiness starts with you. Not with your relationships, your friends, or your jobs. But with you.
-Mandy Hale
Imagine this scenario. You upload something on social media. It could a be a picture or a poem a link to an article or anything else.
You finishing uploading and fix your gaze on the notification icon, waiting for it to blow up. (Or so you wish). But nothing significant happens. You might get one or two likes or you might not. And in sets the disappointment. Sound familiar?
“Your flaws are perfect for the heart that is meant to love you.”
-Unknown
I’m flawed. You’re flawed. We’re all flawed and that’s okay. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be human beings. Being flawed is an inevitable trait since the dawn of time and will be there until all life has perished.
So why do we not proclaim it as loudly as we do our talents and skills?
“It is hard to fail but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
Everyone wants to be happy, right?
You’re constantly wishing and/or praying that whatever problems you have in life go away, right? And yet, there’s a feeling, an emotion, that what if you achieve what you want and you fail at maintaining or preserving it?
“When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you’re not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”
-Paulo Cohelo
When is it good to be selfish?
Caring for and assisting others is no doubt, an admirable quality. Without that aspect of humanity, the world would never move forward.
For every obstacle you’ve ever faced, you’re still here.
-Anonymous
This is it. The end of the road so to speak. There’s no way out. You’re doomed forever.
Do the sentences above sound familiar?
“Ask and I shall tell.”
-Neel Trivedi
Hey there dear readers,
You’ve read our articles. You’ve read our poetry. You follow us on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook. (God willing).
But do you really know us?
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson
In previous articles, I’ve talked about planting the seeds, so to speak for any task or endeavor. For example, if you have writer’s block, I’ve suggested that keeping writing “I don’t know what to write” over and over till you think of something.
“Before you ‘assume’, try this crazy method called asking.”
-Unknown
The year is 2000. I’m in high school. The bell has rung and I’m about to go from choir class to Spanish class. Spanish class has two textbooks which my teacher, Mr. Brown, uses interchangeably. Unfortunately, I’m not sure which one is needed for that particular day. Perhaps Mr. Brown had mentioned it the day before and perhaps he hadn’t. I can’t remember.
“FOMO is the enemy of valuing your own time.”
-Andrew Yang
Imagine this scenario. You’re on one of your zillion social media accounts and surrounded by glamorous pictures of friends, family members and people who you can’t even remember how, if at all, you know.
“Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.”
-Bruce Lee
How hard or easy is it to have patience?
For me personally, it’s one of the most difficult acts to do. Whether it’s waiting for a package delivery or sitting at the airport, I always find myself getting antsy, especially if things get delayed.
I’ve written about this topic before on a handful of occasions. I feel it deserves to be revisited once again because never has it been more timely than the last year and a half.
During the said time, we’ve all found our levels of patience being tested more than ever for a number of reasons.
Firstly, one thing the whole world has been antsy about is the desire of normalcy.
Since late 2019, we’ve all had to combat COVID-19 in various ways. All the while, one thought has been playing in our minds like a broken record: when we things be normal again?
And let’s not forget the entire mess of the last presidential election. Plagued with controversies, the events January 6, constant debates about veracity of voting systems, etc all fried our brains no matter which side we were on politically.
Regardless of who anyone voted for, everyone had to wait longer than usual for a clear definitive winner. (Some argue about it even till today but that’s another topic for another day).
With all that in mind, allow me to collect all the tips I shared in my previous articles about being patient and present them cumulatively here:
Before we get to any exercises, it’s worth pointing out how being patient benefits us.
According to a study published in the Psychological Science journal, when we’re patient, the end result always seems more gratifying. The more we wait for something (or someone) the less granted we take it and begin to value it more.
Now of course that doesn’t eliminate the unpleasant process of waiting. Telling someone that if they climb Mount Everest, they’ll have a huge feeling of accomplishment won’t make the actual climb any easier.
But perhaps it makes us feel that the journey of getting there is worth it, no matter how arduous.
In that study, most participants, even in the midst of irritation and frustration, had increased levels of mindfulness and were reportedly a but more calm the next time.
According to Ye Li, an assistant professor at the University of California who conducted a portion of the study said exercises in patience are advantageous for self-control in many areas including, diet, sleep, smoking and mental health.
Clearly, the virtues of patience are worth imbibing.
But how do we get to that point of even thinking that way?
The following tips are taken from an article in Huffington Post as well as from my personal counselor for depression.
Are you a patient person or impatient? If the latter, do you have tips of your own to combat impatience? Do you agree with the points made in this article? Why or why not? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below on our secure servers.
If you’re not a member of this site, check out our latest options of joining. Become a lifetime member and open your world up to a myriad of poetry, CNF, books, book reviews, custom-made gifts, several publication opportunities and much, much more. Join today!
“Don’t make a permanent decision about a temporary emotion.”
-Unknown
I do it. You do it. Everyone does it. From time to time, we all seek advice from our loved ones.
But should you always take it?
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
-Leonardo Da Vinci
Are all things that are easy in life too good to be true? In the form of rewards, perhaps. In the form of payment over something, be it a job or otherwise, maybe.
After all, as the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
“An obsession is a way for damaged people to damage themselves more.”
-Mark Barrowcliffe
I’ve always believed that two key elements to conquer any difficult endeavor of life are passion and determination. But is there such a thing too much passion? Can you ever love something (or someone) so much that it comes a hindrance more than an ascension.
There can be, when passion becomes obsession.
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.”
-Sharon Saltzberg
In previous articles, I’ve discussed how a state of mindfulness is not just a mental or psychological exercise. Done properly, it can also have a number of physical benefits as well.
After writing that article, I got a couple of questions asking how exactly one would get started if they’ve never done so before. It’s my hope that this article answers some of those questions and serves as a basic introduction to a mindfulness reboot; or starting mindfulness with a clean slate.
“Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
-Traditional Proverb
What is anxiety beyond the usual textbook definition?
A friend of mine once said it felt like her “body, mind and soul were on a perpetual rollercoaster of fear, violent shivering and a heart attack all in one eternal ride.”
“Have a good cry, wash out your heart. If you keep it inside it’ll tear you apart.”
-Sometimes You Win (1979) by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
When was the last time you cried? Whenever it was, did you know you also ended up cleaning some bacteria? In a way, you also just vacuumed your eyes.
Confused?
“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.”
-Bernard Baruch
This is something I’ve done before a few times and still feel it’s never enough. I’m talking about listening.
Yes, I’ve posted and reposted this article a few times. And I continue doing so periodically because I feel it’s crucial in building a relationship with all of you members and readers. And hence, here is that article to give YOU, the reader, your time under the spotlight:
“Having a clear mind and a clear space allows you to think and act with purpose.”
-Ericka Oppenheimer
Stop what you’re doing for a second. Close your eyes and listen to your mind. Do you hear non-stop chattering that just won’t shut up even if you want it to?
“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
-Garth Brooks
“I tried praying. It didn’t work.”
Have you ever heard someone say this before? Or have you ever personally felt that way?
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.”
-Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
How did I go from feeling very optimistic to desolate to optimistic again?
