Deploying Patience

As I tread this path of entrepreneurship – wanting to develop my own consultancy business – I realised that I have to deploy a lot of patience. It could take many years before I crack the case and form a sustainable and profitable business. While having full clarity of why I am doing this, I want to remind myself that though there could possibly be a reward at the end of this journey, I need to meditate on the practice of patience.

I grew up in a culture that have always put a lot of importance in the value of patience. A person that is able to be patient, is one that is of great, composed and mature character. That was what I was taught ever since I was a child; and because of that, as I grew up older, patience was a virtue that I have kept close to my heart.

To bear what you think you cannot bear is really to bear.

Inazo Nitobe (Bushido, Soul of Japan)

I admire those who are able to face hard situations without ever uttering a word of complaint. I admire those that are still able to maintain kindness to others despite being spat and cursed at. I admire those that persevere strenuous effort when others would have chosen the easy way out. These to me, are the practices of those who observe patience.

Essentially; ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’.

While I fixate my eyes on the ultimate goal of this journey, I need to recognise that this will be long-distance marathon in which patience is the value that I need to hold on to. But while I strive to keep tough and be strong to go the distance, I want to remind myself now that there will be ease at the journey’s end.

So, surely with hardship comes ease.
Surely with difficulty comes ease.

Al Quran, The Relief, Chapter 94, verse 5 – 6

So, do not give up, Ruiz. Be Patient. Go the distance.