I am a patient man. I repeat the phrase, “I am a patient man” often. I know that sometimes I need to listen; that takes patience. Other times I need to act; that takes patience too.
It is good for me to persist at a task (either listening or doing), even when the outcome is unclear….And I do love clarity. I suppose all of us love clarity to some degree or another. Some must know an outcome before they proceed (planners); others get a thrill from the unknown (perhaps it is clarity in the moment?).
I have seen some people get really “out of sorts” when the outcomes they expect do not materialize. On the other hand, some people are more able to cope with uncertainty or change, as it happens.
I believe that these three – patience, clarity, neat and tidy – are linked to expectation to varying degrees. High expectations require patience: lots of it. That does not mean I set low expectations (really depends on the situation). Rather, I try to set expectations appropriate to the situation, be clear to myself about those expectations, and then exercise patience in the moment (sometimes I even adjust my expectations “on the fly”). Doesn’t make things neat and tidy, but maybe a bit more comfortable for me (neater and tidier?).
PS – Neat and tidy has a place in writing, as I do like to have “resolution” in my stories. But if it is really messy before that resolution, that makes for a good read.
