Is it just me, or am I spending more time in longer queues these days? Remember when getting on a flight was a 45-minute event? Check-out lines seem to be longer and slower, even with bar codes. And a 10-minute delay on your car journey was the exception, not the rule! While delays have become longer and more frequent, my patience seems to have become shorter and less kindly.
Recently I decided that my reaction to queueing was raining on my parade, and something needed to be done as the problem was not going away. What I noted was that my annoyance reaction was very regular, escalating and predictable. What are those emotions that swell up when I see the queue? Taking an inventory, they included being impatient, annoyed, frustrated, trying a short cut or switching queues (which rarely works), being judgemental, alleging incompetence and throwing in a bit of rage in for good measure. Later on, I always felt a sense of disappointment in myself that I let the matter get the better of me. And finally, after ventilating my frustration with others, I realized that the delay was inconsequential.
Knowing these and other reactions were coming up when the inevitable line-up presented itself, I now try to mindfully go through these cascading feelings without actually expressing them. Curiously and wonderfully, if I mindfully know that soon I will be angry, annoyed, judgmental and unkind these emotions seem to become less menacing or prolonged. However, by mindfully acknowledging that I am disappointed at being the ninths (or the ninetieth) person in the queue does seem to make the delay feel shorter and helps me to avoid over-reacting.
Logically and rationally, we know that impatience is rarely helpful. Therefore, allow yourself the mindful escape of imaging these emotions without actually going through them. And the next time you are in a swelling queue, take a deep breath and acknowledge that momentary impatience without letting it get the better of you.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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