Haste Makes Waste

Nov

Impromptu Letters | aim, incremental steps, media circus, patience, world politics

When we decide to rush things, we put forth an agenda; “ready or not, here I come.” Is a half hazard attempt at achieving our purpose worthy of our time and effort? No one can win the race without focus and a clear mind, regardless of their vocation or station in life. Quickly glance at thoroughbred horse riding as an example. While I’m not a rider, my Buddhist guide loves horse analogies: “A half conscious plan bound in the stirrups of a horse not fully trained is unwise.” We can all relate to his wisdom. In other words, even the most seasoned rider wouldn’t dream of coaxing a moderately trained animal beyond the gate, prize or no prize.

Perhaps a clear picture of HOW we wish to achieve is more important than WHEN.

When will come when how is practiced over and over. If success is the end result, how will you know you have ever achieved it if you never take notice of the day in which you are racing? Success stories tend to pull us off guard. Those who center around Canadian and American standards (a western world view) tend to tabulate and unbuckle their own efforts in comparison to others. Instead we should be highlighting the task at hand. Why the race to jump over another hurdle if we are ill equipped to endure what the day asks of us?

Is it any wonder? When we retire at night where do we turn for assurance? Everywhere we turn one topic after another is derailed for the spotlight of the next big winner. What are the chances those who have won practiced delayed gratification before they reached the podium? One can hardly be condemned for closing down non qualitative media. It is a circus whose primary aim is to barter for your attention and sway opinion. If we do not stop before we enter the race and ask why we are even there, we imbue a tremendous amount of waste before, during and after our efforts.

On the same token we chastise coworkers, leaders, even our friends and family. If we perceive that they have not met our demands at more than a trotting pace, we must first look inward. How are we moving forward with our day in comparison? You cannot ask for something you are ill prepared to give if you cannot answer with a resounding “yes” in return. If you only ask for results in lieu of incremental steps on a path, then stop asking.

No one is to blame for a lack of patience except the one who asks for immediate results on any race, topic or agenda in life. Writing a book is not a race. It too takes effort, chutzpah, craftsmanship (finding your voice) research, editing and so forth. Life will always ask us to slow down and edit until we are good and ready. We need to be aware that others, including ourselves need to take minute steps on a daily basis. We need to accept each step as they happen. That in my books (pun intended) is a job well done.

Prevent yourself from falling into the trap of moving at lightning speed by asking yourself where you are going. What incremental steps have you put in place to get there? Is there a one, two or three year plan? Is the plan realistic and how does it speak to the range of circumstance that will surely happen? Life’s plan is not a streamlined process from point A to point B. It will always be peppered with a measure of unpredictability. Ask anyone who has achieved success.

If your plan can move you in and out of turbulence, then stick to it.

Regardless of the pace or the perceived achievements ahead we need to remain calm, cool and collected in the face of triumph or tragedy. Remember, hindsight will always grant you that second glance when it is required. If your plan sits only as a means to achieve without structure it really was not a plan, it was an exercise to show you that patience in maturing into that plan was perhaps the goal.

Our cover article this week started to expound on the subject of “indivisibility.” The saying “haste makes waste” is very much part of this idiom. For if we rush forward without asking, without accepting and putting the perceived pressures “of the moment” in the foreground instead of the background, we lose sight of the goal. Perhaps “keeping it loose” is what life is asking of us. Then and only then will we see a measure of “indivisibility” between ourselves and those we expect so much, so quickly.