Hurry Up and Learn to Wait: Embracing Patience on the Journey to Success. How important is Patience for Weight Loss Success? Patience is a virtue that doesn’t come naturally to most of us, particularly in today’s society of short social media videos and next-day delivery for our shopping desires. We have become accustomed to instant gratification.
However, certain things in life simply don’t come as quickly as we would like, especially when it comes to making lifestyle changes, losing weight, or getting fit and strong. These changes require dedicated work and commitment, and it may take weeks before we start seeing any visible results. It’s disheartening, particularly for us impatient souls who crave immediate outcomes.
Research has shown that our tendency to choose instant smaller rewards over delayed larger rewards is often influenced by our expectations of how long we have to wait for that reward. When we have a clear understanding of when the reward is due, it becomes easier to remain patient and wait for it. Disappointment and impatience arise when we have unrealistic expectations of receiving the reward sooner than it is realistically possible.
This leads us to reflect on our expectations and how we manage them. What aspects can we control, and how do we respond? We must acknowledge that achieving our health goals and making lasting changes will take time—weeks, months, or even years. By embracing this journey and removing the sense of urgency, every result and reward we witness becomes a valuable step toward our ultimate objective. Managing our expectations, understanding that the process won’t be completed overnight or in a week, helps us navigate impatience and allows us to celebrate the successes, no matter how small they may be.
Consistency, patience, and perseverance will pave the path to success, ensuring that the ultimate reward is within reach.
So, let us embrace the notion of hurrying up and learning to wait, supported by our positive actions. By doing so, we can confidently stride forward on our journey, knowing that success will be ours. Listen to our latest episode Patience for Weight Loss Success here.
