It’s an old favorite told to impatient children by their parents – “Good things come to those who wait”. You, our faithful Needs Aren’t Services blog readers have been waiting for a few months, but we hope you find the wait has been worth it.
In our fast-paced society, we want it now; we don’t want to wait for anything. Change and progress is not usually so instantaneous. Incremental, not Instantaneous reminds us to be patient and to recognize that individuals can change and do so at different times and in their own way. It’s important to remember that change happens slowly, but if we pay attention we will see the small, incremental changes that will eventually lead to monumental changes in the lives of children and families. It may sound easy, but for many it can be a difficult behavior to pick up and practice.
As with any of our Phrases that Pay, patience, and the understanding that change is incremental and not instantaneous, doesn’t come easily. In Chinese, the word (or symbol) for patience is an amalgam of two other symbols – one representing the word “blade” and the other representing the word “heart”. Patience can be a painful virtue to learn and practice and can feel impossible to many.
For the helper, it’s not only important to practice patience, but also to impart that wisdom on the individuals receiving the help. Demonstrating to an individual the value of taking manageable, incremental steps towards self-directed recovery is a key element in leading to a successful transition away from system support and into self reliance.
The ancient Greeks also had a firm grasp on the virtues of patience. Aesop’s famed fable The Tortoise and the Hare is the childhood favorite of many for alluding to patience – slow and steady wins the race is now part of most everyone’s vernacular when it comes to speaking on being patient.
As we all work to enhance the lives of youth and their families, it is vitally important to always keep in mind that every individual has a different pace towards their own success. One can never “take too long” when it comes to striving towards improvement; a strong dose of patience will always be a cornerstone of success.
- Andrew Shapiro, Director, Hamilton Choices
