Being patient is not something I have ever been particularly good at. In fact I have often found my enthusiasm to be my biggest weakness. When I get an idea in my head I often dive right into action without taking time to think through the next steps.
And similarly, I’ve always been a big dreamer with hopes and ambitions to change the world. But recently I’ve learned that changing the world doesn’t happen overnight with one big decision or action. Effective change takes time and lots of small changes.
In life and in sport we often hear the story of how one moment, match or opportunity changed everything. But in reality that one moment is the result of a thousand different moments. That lucky break is the result of years of hard work meeting the right opportunity.
In order to be successful in sport and in life, we need to practice patience and trust that with hard work and focusing on the process, the outcome we desire will emerge.
As I come to the end of my formal training as a sport psychologist I can see now the importance of the process. Every assignment I have ever completed, every group discussion and every small experience I have had to this point has taught me something critical. It is the result of all these small moments and decisions that have helped me grow to the practitioner I am today and will allow me to continue growing.
I need to be patient and persistent because results, change and growth take time.
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” - Saadi