“No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher
Self-mastery is about patience……..as well as persistence, which I wrote about in a recent blog. “Little by little” is a wise phrase that describes the process – taking baby steps, staying with the process consistently, and having patience to bring the process to fruition.
We live in such a fast-paced world; our technology can produce almost instantly for us…….and so we learn to expect the outcome instantly as well. We forget about honoring the process, and what it takes to have a satisfying outcome, not simply a rapid result. Think about other things in your experience that take time: creating a great meal, building a relationship, learning a new skill. Yes, it takes consistent effort, and persistence to endure through mistakes, and moreover, patience to attain a level of satisfaction with your outcome. This is wise to remember when you’re growing your business.
Patiently and persistently….patiently and persistently. This is the approach one has to bring to any practice, such as meditation or learning a language or creating a piece of art/craft. Most people are impressed with the successful result that is presented, but most don’t realize the hours of repetitive effort that precede the “moment”: or outcome of success. There is the story of the stonecutter, who hits the rock with his hammer, and the stone splits. At that moment, people can think that the stonecutter is really strong, as he can break the stone with one blow. The reality is that he’s been hammering away at the rock for a long time; many blows went into the rock before it finally split. So too, when people see someone who has achieved a level of success; they can say “He must be really lucky”. Just like the stonecutter didn’t break the rock in one blow, so too, no one is lucky enough to achieve success without persistent, consistent effort.
So stay with the process, little by little, having patience to bring your “baby” to success. It’s a practice that bears fruit in its own time.
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