When we are in the process of doing anything right from the time we get up in the morning,to getting ready for work, travelling to work,shopping,having food,watching TV,reading a book-anything, there is a strange rush to complete it. There is a haste, an urgency to finish it. In fact, this process is unending and like a switch thats turned on since morning , continues unabated till the time we go to sleep-till this switch is turned off.
Let me try and explain with some examples- lets assume that we are standing in a queue, how many of us can claim to enjoy this "journey"? According to the theory of waiting, we always feel that the other queue is moving faster than mine. The funny part is that no matter even if we have all the time in the world, this anxiety never reduces. Why does this happen?
When we are in a restaurant, we feel that the Captain is taking too long to take our order and later, longer to get the food.
There is no end to the irritation of waiting for someone if there is a meeting scheduled at a particular time.During a flight, the journey seems never ending and worse if the Pilot isn't getting permission to land over the destination, thats nothing but torture.
So right from the time we get up till the time we sleep, we are in a " process" or what I call TRANSIT. Till the time we do not reach its ultimate and perceived aim/goal or climax this process leads to impatience,anxiety and frustration.
So standing in queues, waiting for your order in a restaurant, moving from one destination to another--all of these are very rarely enjoyable 'processes" under normal circumstances.
The degree of these emotions may vary from person to person and/or there may be different points of tolerance. For example, in a restaurant, Mr.X may get annoyed after a delay of 10 minutes while it may take 20 minutes for Mr.Y.
Worse, there is a chance that Mr.Y has pent up emotions which may be more 'expressive" than Mr. Y!
One of the reasons that could differentiate one person form another is who can withstand this torment of transit for a longer time by embracing the time being taken. What I mean is that there is a purpose to why there is a delay. If we understand that the universe moves in a symphony and that we all are players, every element moves in synchronization and that each of our activities are dependent on each other. The so called 'delay" is for our own good and the only thing we should be doing is to embrace it. Believe me, those who embrace it in real terms can get miraculous results during THAT TIME.
For example, if you are on your job, a sales job and your two appointments are scheduled at 11 am and 2 pm. Considering you are in a distant place, what would you typically do if the appointment of 11 is canceled especially when you had to get up at 5 am to reach that place and find that it was all in vain? Now the clock starts-about your life in TRANSIT. Your next appointment is at 2 and you have all the time in the world to do, actually nothing. Its very normal to feel frustrated,annoyed and blame everybody from your client to your luck for this f%$ up. Now is the time to get miracles-actually. This is the opportunity! If you just thank the circumstances that well, good that the appointment was canceled and there is definitely something better thats in store for you, life will take a dramatic turn--try it. You may get ideas that are out of the world,maybe revolutionary,a breakthrough innovation. You may even meet someone who can probably give you or lead you to someone to a bigger or better business than the client who canceled the meeting. You may even begin to love someone more than ever or there may be a grand realization of your errors mistakes or follies with friends. All this happens but it takes a lot of struggle. But the results are equally amazing. It may take some time to put into practice but its worth it.
So what would you do next time you are in TRANSIT?
