At one point in time in life my struggle with patience was an endless battle that I wasn’t sure I would ever overcome.  The excruciating process of having to wait on my dreams and desires to manifest was deplorable at times. The constant agony of wondering when and if my hard work would ever pay off always sent me into a world of mental chaos. I began to doubt my skill set and even questioned if the goal at hand truly aligned with my purpose.  What I have now come to realize is that many things won’t happen on “our” time and this is something we must accept. I have since learned that the greatest difficulty lies in knowing that your desire to succeed outweighs your desire to give up when unfavorable circumstances come your way. This is why pressing toward the mark is necessary! True commitment requires the due diligence necessary to acquire excellence. This very commitment will shape you into a steadfast leader who thrives in the face of adversity! I do admit, I am still a work in progress. However, when patience has me on the path of passivity, I am often reminded by the great men and women who came before me that one can PREVAIL WITH PATIENCE!!  The next time you are overwhelmed by your impatience, reference the following to remind yourself why you started in the first place:

Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.” ~Mother Teresa

A man who masters patience masters everything else.” ~George Savile

It is difficult to be patient but to waste the rewards for patience is worse.” ~Abu Bakr

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

The truth of the matter is that you cannot rush excellence. Having patience is the conscious decision to learn to trust yourself and the growth process. True wisdom comes with knowing that there are going to be some things that you will not be able to change. Use the time to nurture your dreams and to grow on both personal and professional levels.

From this day forward, if you ever feel like rushing through the process, stop, reflect and take your time. Trust that every “baby step” you are taking is getting you closer to your dreams.

By Dr. Avis Foley

Co-Publisher, Purpose Weekly