Veruca Salt Ain’t Got Nothing On Me: 4 Tips to Get Over Your Patience-Challenged Self

In a world where you can order food, clothing, education, and people online (or on your phone) with the touch of a button or a swipe to the right and have them appear within minutes, it’s no wonder we can get a sense of urgency about EVERYTHING.

If patience is a virtue, then we’re doomed.

But when I was growing up, I was taught that the things in life worth having were things that took time and effort. Do you see my dilemma?

Even though like Veruka Salt of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory “I want it and I want it NOW,” I also know it takes time and effort to get it. And that once we set our intention and our goal, our work has really just begun. The universe will continually test us to make sure we really want it.

This certainly could not have been truer during my recent re-branding process.

Luckily, in addition to some really great tools for shifting my thinking and my mood, I also have a great support system of friends, colleagues, and a kick-ass coach who all know about my restless nature and instead of allowing me to wallow in it help me learn from it.

So if you are patience-challenged, like me, when going after your big juicy dreams (in business OR in life), then these tips may be just what you need to GET OVER YOURSELF and muster up the strength to keep moving forward toward greatness:

1. Define your success. Nothing unleashes the green-eyed monster of envy faster than a skewed sense of success. In traditional business, success is often equated with money. But not everyone measures success that way. For me, success if about getting out of my comfort zone, being more visible, speaking my truth, and making an impact.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others. We all can fall prey to the comparison trap. But we have to remember that what we see on the outside is rarely what’s happening on the inside. I cannot tell you how many colleagues of mine have had the same experience as me of taking their business to the next level and having their personal lives fall to pieces concurrently. But on the outside, all others see is the prettiness of the business growth. When you find yourself wishing you had what others had, realize you’re not only wising for the good stuff, but the not so good stuff.
3. Align yourself with what you want (not what you don’t). It’s amazing how much we focus on what we DON’T want. I catch myself doing that and nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. If what we focus on is what we create, then why (oh, why) would we want to focus on anything but what we want?
4. Don’t quit before the miracle. Setbacks are part of the deal. The path from where you are now to where you want to be is NOT a straight, perfect line. It’s a curvy, jagged, winding road with detours, potholes, and inclement weather. The real work isn’t about getting to the end, it’s about managing all the crap that came up in the process of getting there.

If we got what we want immediately all the time, I truly believe we wouldn’t really appreciate it. The lessons and challenges we have along the way teach us so much and allow us the opportunity to really appreciate what we have.

So, move over you Verucas of the world. It’s time to actually put in the time and effort to get what you want. You’ll be soooo glad you did!

Got anything to share about your patience challenges and how you’ve dealt with them? Leave a comment below.

Meanwhile enjoy this blast from the past, Miss Veruca in action…