“Waiting”— a word that can feel overwhelming and extremely frustrating. Just a few days ago, I stopped by a restaurant to grab dinner, and it felt like my order was taking forever. The food was being freshly prepared, and I was sure I’d been waiting for an eternity. But when my meal finally arrived, I checked the time and realized it had only been about 15 to 20 minutes. That’s when it hit me—life is moving exactly as it should, I just want things as soon as I desire them.

I’ll be honest waiting isn’t fun. Whether you’re in line for your morning coffee or waiting for a life-changing opportunity, it can feel like expecting rain in a drought—endless and uncertain.

Welcome to the art of living fully while you wait.

As I continue to learn about waiting, there’s a truth that stands out: life doesn’t stop because you’re waiting. So, I write this for anyone in their season of waiting, let’s make the best out of this.

1. Embrace the Art of the Pause

Accept that you’re in a season of waiting and wait. Think of it like waiting for the traffic light to turn green because then you are sure it is go-time. Don’t try to get ahead of yourself, bask in pause.

2. Show up for yourself one day at a time

You don’t need to have everything figured out all at once, so don’t try to. Take each second as it comes and show up. Don’t overthink it, don’t worry about tomorrow (I mean this literally and figuratively). Every day comes with its own gift. So, unpack what today has for you, you just might find goodies for tomorrow. There is strength in showing up for yourself one day at a time.   

3. Turn Patience into Your Superpower

We tend to think of patience as something we have to do, but what if it’s something you could master? What if it isn’t a season just to wait but to build? What if waiting is unlocking things in us we didn’t think we possessed? 

4. Deepen Your Connections

One of the most fulfilling ways to wait for anything at all is keeping yourself busy with things that take your mind off the fact that you are waiting. For me, I’m discovering that it’s deepening connections. Connections are powerful and the right ones just keep you going. Invest in the connections that bring you to your most authentic self. 

5.  Grow, Learn, Repeat

When is a better time for self-development and building capacity if not while you wait. I’m starting to see waiting as an invitation to build capacity. I’m starting to see it as an invitation to becoming all the things I so admire. I’m starting to see it as a time to be better. I’m starting to see it as a time to transition. You just might discover that what you learn during this time opens doors you never even knew existed.

6. Be Expectant

This is one thing my best friend resounds every time –“Wonu, you have to be expectant” . Life has its way of presenting you with the things you need and the things you didn’t even know you needed. I’m also realizing that to truly receive, you should expect that it’s coming. As you wait, as you build, as you grow, expect that the red light will turn green, and it will be time for you to go. Tell yourself everyday – “Something good is going to happen today”.

I don’t write this from the comfort of someone who has mastered it all, as I write this to you guys, I write this to myself as well. I can agree that waiting tends to feel like something we just endure, but what if it’s actually preparing us? Little by little, day by day, I’m beginning to see my life as an adventure—one where each obstacle isn’t a roadblock but a bump into something far greater. Sure, the road may not always be smooth, but let’s face it, the best stories never are. What’s ahead will always be better than what’s left behind.

The wait might just be telling us that what we want doesn’t fit with where we are and it’s time to move.