One of my weaknesses is that I lack patience and often seek immediate results. Of course, I understand the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” but I frequently find myself impatient and eager for quick outcomes.
However, as I age, I’ve come to realize that some things simply have to be left to the passage of time.
In Japan, we have a saying: “Good fortune comes to those who sleep and wait. (果報は寝て待て)” It means that the arrival of happiness is beyond human control, so we should wait calmly for the right moment.
In other words, there is no need to rush the fruition of anything; we should go with the flow of time and follow the natural course of events. This reflects the philosophy that everything will come to fruition when the conditions are right.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should just wait passively. The prerequisite is to exhaust everything we can do and should do. After that, we should calmly wait for the results without worrying.
When I was younger, I resisted this saying. I thought, “Who can wait around so leisurely?” But looking back now, I realize it was because I hadn’t exhausted what I needed to do.
If you’re feeling anxious or impatient with a project or task you’re currently working on, take a moment to consider if there’s anything else you can do. If nothing comes to mind, then it’s time to sleep and wait patiently!
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