Why Waiting is Taking Action

But then why is it so difficult to do?

Photo by Yucel Moran on Unsplash

My therapist once suggested I make the conscious choice of standing in the longest line at the grocery store to remedy my incredible lack of patience.

I have a hard time waiting for anything.

I began to practice this idea at first with gritted teeth. The cashier was moving too slow; the woman three people ahead of me was taking too long to empty her cart that was so full it was overflowing. It took everything in me not to jump ahead of the line and simply do it for her. Eventually, with a lot of deep breathing, I must admit it got a little easier, although still not a practice I maintain regularly.

Perhaps if I did, it would make this waiting season I find myself in now a little more tolerable and I’d have the ability to do it more gracefully.

Why do we find it so difficult to wait?

The Art of Waiting

We are always waiting for something. The email to come. Likes on our social media posts. The plane. Our dinner to arrive. The test results. The book to be published.

It seems we spend half our lives waiting.

But it is a particularly uncomfortable kind of waiting when we are waiting for guidance. Waiting to know which path to take. Waiting for an answer when we are not even clear on what the question is.

Waiting on God.

I am aware the word God can be triggering for many people, so please replace it with any word that feels more aligned to you, Love, Source, the Universe, Higher Power.

This is not my first time. I have waited on God before. In the past, I have been known to make irrational decisions based on panic and fear that were costly to go back and undo. But when I am in this space, I am overwhelmed with the need to do something. Anything. The desire to take action is overpowering.

But when you don’t know what to do, there is no choice but to wait.

What I have wrestled with repeatedly but have finally come to understand is that waiting IS the action.

It is a forceful action. It is no easy feat to sit through fear or banter with the inner dialogue of the mind constantly reminding you of all the things you should be doing right now. It takes strength to trust that more will be revealed at the right time.

Waiting is the meantime. The hallway. It is a necessary time to prepare us for the next chapter. It may feel muddy and confusing and like the downtime is a complete waste of our time, but I have learned that it never is.

It is a sacred time.

My past has also taught me how to identify when the waiting season has finally come to an end, and that is through the gift of clarity. Previously, I have felt a physical shift in my body. A release. Suddenly, I have just known exactly what to do next. The path is now clear.

The challenge is never knowing when that time will come, but there is deep peace in knowing that it will indeed come.

So, if you are like me and waiting, here are five steps to take while you wait:

1.) Prioritize mental wellbeing. Prioritize rest, move your body, eat nutritious foods, use mindfulness to minimize stress, and engage with others for a support network. Use this waiting time to prepare yourself to be physically and mentally strong. I offer a workbook of additional mental wellness tools and ideas that you can download for FREE here.

2.) Be Still. It is essential to carve out time in the waiting season to be still and listen. *God speaks in whispers not grand gestures so spend time in meditation, prayer, or by sitting quietly and focusing on your breath so that you can hear the answer when it arrives. I have found being still also alleviates stress, pressure, and the need to act and replaces it with a deep sense of peace.

3.) Allow Yourself to Cry or Scream. Give yourself the gift of feeling your feelings. Some days will be easier than others. I gave myself permission to cry or scream when I need to, when frustrated or angry, or when I wonder why it is taking so long. I let myself vent for a specific period of time, but never ever stay there. Crying is a release, which lets us let go of everything we are holding onto so tightly so that the process of waiting becomes easier.

4.) Help someone else. The best way to get out of yourself is to get into someone else. Find ways that you can be of service, no matter how small. This also fills the need to feel like you are DOING something. Call a friend who is going through a tough time. Ask your parents or partner if there is anything they need help with right now. Spend your free time looking for ways to nurture and be supportive of the relationships you have in your life and look for new ones too.

5.) Find Tiny Pockets of Joy. Look for things in your day that bring you joy and make you smile. Notice the flowers. The sunset. How great that hug feels from your partner or mom. Let it envelop and surround you. Then bottle it up and take it with you so that you can draw on it in those moments when you need it the most.

The waiting season is never deadtime; there are dozens of wonderful things to do while we wait.

Now, I would love to hear in the comments about what supports you the most during your own waiting season if you find yourself currently in one.

Also, If you are interested in working with me directly to discover how private 1:1 coaching can support you, email michele@michelecapots.com to schedule a FREE 60-minute clarity call.

Finally, this summer, I am launching an exciting eight-week group coaching mastermind, Being Unapologetically You, so that you can finally connect or reconnect with who you are truly meant to be. Details will be coming soon.

As always, I am aware how many things are vying for your attention these days, so I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this far. Please hit the SUBSCRIBE button to get a new post delivered directly to your inbox next week or SHARE this post with someone who needs it.

Until then.

Be Well,

Michele