Keep the Faith

Friedrich Nietzsche had once discussed that the tragedy in our lives often is not in the conflict with the times but rather in our inability to postpone them, as they cannot wait. Some things and activities cannot wait for the patient and great men to come in and take their own sweet time to execute. They need a split second decision. And a moment lost once, is mostly a tragedy for the rest of our lives.

Ever since our childhood, we have been told about the virtues of patience. That it is a virtue to be imbibed has been told again and again to ingratiate it into our moral fiber. We have grown to believe that all that is patient is good and the rest is bad. Every time we get angry or frustrated, it is blamed on lack of patience and the influence of modern culture of two-click results.

Patience is often described as the ability to endure waiting and delay without becoming upset, when faced with difficulties. As per Buddhism, it is a perfection which is difficult to imbibe. But when we are faced with multi-dimensional pressures of the modern day life, all these definitions and explanations seem theoretical.

I have tried to build on to my patience levels and have always credited myself to be an extremely patient person. But off and on certain situations take the better of me. I don’t think that is bad, but it sure is a matter of concern.

In the modern business driven times, every thing, every person, and every activity is basis the materialistic benefit it entails. So when faced with a stiff unflinching opposition, one tends to lose control.

When I was getting frustrated at a situation recently, a friend told me that patience was not about passively biding time, but about going on inch by inch, chipping away at the problem. It’s a very romantic idea, but in real life some situations present themselves as a dead end. And that is when such romantic ideas are most relevant but make least sense.

I don’t deny that patience can be good in some facets, but is it always good? Patience with bad choices and decisions that they may correct with time does not seem to be a correct idea. But most teams work on this belief. As they say, to err is human, but to forgive is not company’s policy. Not acting in such situations can cost the team heavily in terms of resources, which as per economic theory are always scarce.

In cases of conflict, one has to determine the right time to act. If the two parties involved might be able to wait a little longer, then it should be done. But if it is beyond that, it is always better to act rather than being patient and appease. This appeasement and wrong judgment resulted in World War 2.

The idea is to set aside the brashness of youth and think quickly on your feet. I read somewhere that most people pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it. So it is important to be decisive and ruthless when acting in such situations. If you know you are right, and the time is ripe, act and remove the problem.

The keyword above was time. And building on this time is patience. So be patient till you can take it. Give the other party due credit and time to correct themselves. Try and empathize with them. Try and help them correct the situation. But if this does not happen, its time to move in boys!

I am hoping that my frustrations over a situation do not prompt me to act fast. I want to give time to the problem, but not too much time to let it chip away at my sanity. Rather I would blow the problem away. Amen!!