When’s the last time you enjoyed a wait? Whether it’s highway construction or someone making correct change at the supermarket, any delay instantly stresses us. Unfortunately, that mindset isn’t doing our mental or physical health any good. So let’s try something different starting this week…. Instead of categorizing waiting as an annoying disruption of the day, it’s time to begin thinking of it as an unexpected reward—a pocket of time when you don’t have to do anything. Imagine that!
Easier said than done, right? There’s no doubt that this is a skill that takes time to develop. (But the end result will be totally worth it!) So here’s a fun, wait-training program that can work for anyone willing to try.
Warm up. Start small. Program your phone to pick up on the fifth ring, then make it a rule to never answer before four. Likewise, if you’re an e-mail addict, vow to check and reply to messages only twice or (gulp) once daily. The urge to answer will be overwhelming at first, but it’ll ease.
Increase the resistance. Once you start to develop some patience, try more challenging tests. Drive the speed limit, deliberately pick a long line at the supermarket, show up early for an appointment, cook regular rather than minute rice…. Make a game of it. Explore your limits.
Use some props. Like a 3-year-old who just sipped some Red Bull, it will initially be difficult to slow down. So outfit yourself with some items to make unexpected delays more enjoyable. Tuck a magazine or novel into your purse so you’ll always have something to read. (When do you ever get time to do that anyway?) Or type “wait” into the iTunes search engine and download your favorites from the 150 or so songs with that word in the title. (The resulting playlist is guaranteed to make you smile.) Or visit ted.com for “riveting talks by remarkable people that are free to the world.” Listen to them on your iPod or mobile. (Consider it downtime education.)
Be still. This is ultimately where you want to get to—that mental place where you can sit quietly and be totally in the moment. To master this, keep pulling your mind back to the present when it drifts. Imagine your heartbeat or your breath as a pendulum and let yourself be entranced by it. It takes effort, so don’t get discouraged. Remind yourself of all those instances when you complained about never having time for yourself. Now you do. Smile, sigh, be thankful!
I NEED SOME MONE FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. I DON'T HAVE NONE. WILL ANY-ONE HELP ME? MY PHONE NUMBER IS (615) 688-4233, CALL ME AT TEN OCLOCK AM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND GOD BLESS YOU.
Everyday Things You Shouldn't Trust
