Learning Patience Through a Creative Practice
“Patience is the lesson I am here to learn on this earth.”
I never expected to learn it through art.
I was not a very patient person, and I have never been. Ask anyone who has known me. I made decisions quickly; I was reactive, anxious, and impatient. When I feel reactive, anxious, impatient, or overwhelmed, I recognize that I haven't given myself enough nurturing space. Each of us has a threshold, and it’s important to know what that is. This awareness can be challenging in our fast-paced, competitive, and technology-saturated world.
When you immerse yourself in a creative act, you enter a space that takes you out of the hectic pace.
It allows you to slow down. Over time, repetition creates new neural pathways, and you want to sit in that quiet space. You begin to crave it. You slow down. You give yourself space. You relax. When you are calmer, you are also more patient.
A few weeks ago, I was immersed in an art project, and what I was doing was something I used to hate because it required patience. Yet, I realized how peaceful and calming the activity was. I spent hours putting together smaller pieces of art, and I smiled at the enjoyment I felt. This would have sent me in a frustrated, retreating tizzy in the past. Progress.
I enjoy the free-flowing initial layers of a painting or writing piece, but I used to feel lost regarding the finishing touches. I didn’t have the patience for all the details. Now, it is just part of the process for me. It feels so satisfying to delve deep into the details compared to the playfulness of beginnings.
So if you often find yourself impatient, it might be time to start a creative practice.
