Nurturing the seed of patience
Posted by Savannah Mayfield on Mon, August 18th 2008 in Parenting Wisdom
Personal Coach Savannah Mayfield shares a personal story with a powerful impact.
Do you ever have those days when you just don’t feel like you were cut out to be a mama? Or at least the kind of mama you want to be?
I have these moments of sheer frustration when I feel like I am blindly fumbling in the abyss for a tool that I just can’t reach, for a word that I can’t remember or for an ounce of patience in a dry well.
In coaching school, I learned a valuable principle: the attributes that you consider to be your greatest weaknesses are often reflections of your greatest strengths. And by focusing on your strengths, you can also transform your weaknesses into positive attributes.
How?
By noticing what your needs are in those moments of weakness. For me, when my patience is sizzled to a tiny speck, I am generally needing some time alone. I am so creative and fueled by self-expression that without the much needed moments of quiet and reflection, I become a nasty, grumpy short-fused woman.
This reminds me of a story I once heard:
A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt.
He said, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.
One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.”
The grandson asked him, “Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?”
The grandfather answered: “The one I feed.”
~ Native American Story ~
So today my commitment is to feed the hungry, growing patience in my heart with love, compassion and attention.
What little seeds of strength are you growing?
Savannah Mayfield
http://www.nurturelifecoaching.com
