Patience equals power

While traveling abroad recently, I learned something about how people handle communication barriers. When you’re out of your comfort zone, it’s an incredible test of your patience. Visiting a foreign country and not being able to speak the local language can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get directions, make a purchase or decipher a menu. But when you react negatively to the locals in response to your frustration, you only make matters worse. Openly displaying impatience to the person you are trying to communicate with is just plain disrespectful.

I was disappointed to witness someone fly off the handle unnecessarily on several occasions during our travels. She lacked patience and lacked respect for those around her. Having patience—that is, stepping back and choosing to remain calm when you’re having trouble communicating—instantly earns you power and respect. I saw that firsthand. This kind of power lets you take control of any difficult situation and work toward making it better. Losing your cool does nothing but bring you the wrong kind of attention. It’s one of the worst ways of trying to get what you want.

Patience and power. Until now, I never realized just how much those two words make sense together.

xo,

David