Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it...

I would assume the great majority of us have all read or at least heard the above quote. It usually plays out something like this, there we are reevaluating who we are as people, and it becomes painfully evident how impatient we have become. "Ok", we say. "Father, universe, spirit, give me the strength and wisdom to gain more patience," we whisper.

You know what happens next, don't you? Some event, some interaction, some happening mysteriously takes place in our life and ultimately begins to test and stretch our patience to the max. "AGH, this isn't what I asked for," we scream!

What essentially has taken place in this transaction? What is it we were trying to accomplish after our deep introspection into ourselves? Did we truly desire to be tested in the area of our patience, or were we instead looking for an easy route to achieve that which is difficult to possess?

The answer is a resounding Yes, we were looking for the easy way out! We humans have a most difficult time in fighting through the drudgery that oftentimes exists in growing or stretching to become our best self.

Why exactly? Well, science has overwhelmingly proven that our brains are hardwired to protect us from doing those things that prove to be difficult, inconvenient, or otherwise uncomfortable. The fight or flight response activates, and especially due to the fact that many of us live cushy 21st century lives where almost anything and everything is received via instant gratification, we choose the flight option instead of fighting the good battle to attain that precious thing which we desire.

So, how do we overcome this formidable foe? We fight!! We purposefully choose to endure the struggle. We decide to cherish, and not despise those moments when God allows us to be stretched. If we continue to do this time and time again, we inevitably begin to grow, and after all is said and done realize we have indeed gained that thing once desired.

Do you agree?

How about this quote that seems fitting to the issue.

"You don't get what you want, you get what you work for." ---Anon

John Gabriel