If there’s one virtue I’ve really learned to value over the years, it’s patience. Lately, I’ve been putting it to the test at the office, especially in how I deal with some colleagues. I have teammates who seem to be “playing it smart,” delaying progress for reasons I honestly don’t understand. Sometimes it even feels like they’re sabotaging the work, and what puzzles me most is that it doesn’t seem to benefit them in any obvious way.
I’ve stopped trying to decode their motives, because that only leads to more frustration. Instead, I’m choosing to focus on what I can control, my actions, my response, and my commitment to the project. I don’t want to carry unnecessary stress, so I’m doing my best to move things forward, even if that sometimes makes me look like the “bad guy” who keeps pushing everyone to deliver.
It’s emotionally draining to be that person, the one who follows up, asks for updates, and refuses to let tasks just sit there. But at the same time, I know that staying silent would hurt the project even more. For me, this is where real patience comes in, not just waiting quietly, but staying calm while doing what’s necessary, even when it’s uncomfortable.
There’s a quote by Joyce Meyer that says, “Patience is not simply the ability to wait, it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” That line pretty much sums up what I’m trying to practice right now.
I just hope that in the end, all this effort, choosing patience, choosing to keep things moving, will pay off for the good of the project and the team. And if it helps me grow a little more in the process, then the struggle is worth it.
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