Patience is not waiting; it’s what you do while you wait

You know when it gets to a point when you are just waiting for something, "waiting” for a lot of things, opportunities, replies to emails, that one call that could change everything. You know the kind of waiting I’m talking about: the hopeful kind, the expectant kind, the kind where you feel like you’re on the edge of something big.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: waiting isn’t patience; I do not have one.

For a few weeks, I took to slumber; I told myself I was “being patient.” I convinced myself that my quiet days and empty schedule meant I was practicing patience. But in reality, I was just stuck. I would scroll endlessly on my phone, take naps that stretched into afternoons, and tell myself this was all part of the process. I’d say, “Good things take time, right?”

The problem? I wasn’t using that time. I was sleeping my dreams away.

The Myth of Passive Patience

We often think patience is just the ability to wait without complaining. But that’s only half the story. Real patience, the kind that actually changes your life, is active.

It’s learning a new skill even though no one is watching.
It’s writing down your ideas when there’s no audience yet.
It’s preparing so well that when the opportunity finally knocks, you don’t have to say, “Wait, let me get ready.”

When you practice active patience, you turn the waiting season into a growing season.

What I Do While I Wait

Once I realized this, I started making small changes. Instead of endlessly checking my inbox for “that” email, I started reading; truth be told, keeping up with it is hard, but I make the effort to read, sharpening my writing and building small habits of keeping fit. I have told myself, “When the chance comes, it should find me ready, not rusty.”

Some days, that means working on personal development, improving my communication skills, expanding my network, or learning something new online. One skill I want to master is public speaking, and only God knows how many times I stand in my room with an invisible audience, addressing them on any topic that comes to mind. Other days, it’s as simple as organizing my clothes or brainstorming ideas for future projects. A lot of drafts in my Word document.

I stopped measuring patience by how still I could stay and started measuring it by how much progress I could make without rushing. I was never an individual that rushed, even when there was pressure. I love to take my time.

Why Active Patience Matters

Here’s the thing: the time will pass anyway. The days between where you are and where you want to be will move forward whether you act or not. The question is, what will you have to show for it when the waiting ends?

If you’re in a waiting season right now, for a job, for love, for healing, or for clarity, remember that you don’t have to stand still. You can plant seeds now that will bloom later.

Patience is not about putting your dreams on pause. It’s about preparing yourself so that when the opportunity finally comes, you can step into it with confidence, skill, and readiness.

What are you doing while you wait?