This post originally appeared onClassically Trained.
Do you ever find yourself waiting?
If you are into video games, maybe you are waiting for the next great game to be released.
As an employee, perhaps you are waiting for a promotion or waiting for five o' clock.
Many are lonely and just waiting for someone to notice them.
Let’s face it, we are all waiting on something.
In fact, gamers have been doing a significant amount of waiting ever since games were first designed.
Some games and systems were worse than others, but I remember theNeo Geo CDbeing among the worst violators.
What you do while you wait is the important part.
I think back to the firstSonic the Hedgehoggame on the Sega Genesis.
Seriously, even the video game is getting impatient now.
Impatience can come at a high cost.
In video games,we lose our lives, resources, and even ingame progressto impatience.
In real life, the stakes are even higher.
Not waiting can kill a career, a relationship, or even put your life at risk.
Indifference
Indifference in many ways is the opposite of anger.
Waiting can drain our energy, and even our passion.
It may result in us developing a careless attitude, which can also have profound consequences.
When we get disconnected to our “why” this is what eventually happens.
I like to refer to this mindset as adopting a realistic preference.
Let’s say that you are waiting for a promotion or searching for the perfect job.
you might get a second job, maybe something part-time.
That will increase your income in the short run.
you might also start up your own business.
It has never been easier foranyone with a computer to make money.
What about decreasing your spending?
What would you do with another $300 a month?
You could pay off a car, a student loan, or make extra payments on the mortgage.
I can’t tell you how good it feels to have no monthly car payment!
And yes, my home is completely paid off too (in Animal Crossing, at least).
In theFinal Fantasyseries (VI& VII especially) I found myself doing a fair amount of leveling up.
So while you are waiting,how can you build skills?
How can you help them, or even teach them about things you know?
Rarely, if ever, have a truly regretted supporting others.
As technology advances, so does the potential complexityfor this reason, load screens are here to stay.
While waiting in life, and even video games, is unavoidable it does not have to be wasteful.
Find ways to improve yourself or help others around you when you feel stuck facing life’s loading screens.
Image adapted fromwhiteisthecolor(Shutterstock).
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