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The Art of Patience

Discover how slowing down nurtures resilience, emotional intelligence, and deeper learning—showing that meaningful growth happens when we trust the process, stay present, and allow time for true understanding.

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Sailaja Vittaldev - Head of School, The School of Raya
Posted on 13 Feb 2026

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“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

In a world obsessed with speed, instant downloads, quick answers, and fast results, patience may seem outdated. Yet, it is in stillness that growth often takes root. I believe that nurturing patience is not just a virtue, but a foundational skill that helps learners thrive in an ever-changing world. Patience cultivates reflection, resilience, and a deeper connection with self and others. It allows us to be present in the process, rather than rushing to the product. While everyone else is sprinting, patience is what lets us stop, breathe, and notice that the flowers are blooming—and yes, they are taking their own sweet time.

 

Patience is more than just waiting it is the quality of how we wait. It is the mindset we adopt when things don’t go as planned. Research in emotional intelligence and cognitive psychology shows that patient individuals exhibit better emotional regulation, empathy, and long-term achievement (Schnitker & Emmons, 2007). In education, patience enables deeper learning. Students who are not pressured by time are more likely to engage meaningfully, persevere through challenges, and develop authentic understanding.

 

When the learning environments foster inquiry and self-directed learning, patience becomes a powerful companion on the journey toward mastery and purpose. As educators this means seeing growth as a process, not a race. It’s natural to want immediate improvement, but often, the most profound transformations in children are slow and quiet. Patience allows us to pause before jumping to conclusions—whether about academic performance, emotional reactions, or behaviour. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t they getting this yet?”, we can ask, “What support might they need right now?”

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"Are we listening to understand, or listening to reply?"

This question applies to both home and school. Many conflicts arise not from disagreement, but from impatience—a rush to fix, to advise, or to correct without fully hearing the other person’s story. Cultivating patience means choosing to slow down long enough to truly see and hear one another.

 

This reflection was echoed in a powerful way during a recent session I attended with Ankur Warikoo, a respected entrepreneur and author. He spoke with conviction about patience not being a personality trait, but a value that must be cultivated especially in our schools and homes. He shared how our need for instant gratification often hinders deep growth, and how children must be taught to stay with boredom, just waiting, process delays, and embrace the long view. His words resonated with me deeply. They echoed our school’s philosophy – “Find Your Flow” because flow isn’t born in a rush. It is discovered in the rhythm of effort, pause, and persistence. Patience is also a teachable concept. Like empathy or collaboration, it can be modelled, practiced, and reinforced over time. Children learn patience when they see adults regulating their own reactions, waiting without frustration, and approaching challenges with calm persistence. Whether through mindful pauses, reflective conversations, or simply allowing a child to fail safely and try again, patience becomes a shared way of being. And that is when the magic happens.

 

Patience is not a passive trait; it is a powerful practice. It teaches us to hold space for effort, uncertainty, and gradual growth. At The School of Raya, we see the art of patience as essential to enabling learners to find their flow, empowering them to embrace challenge, and awakening their inner potential. In every delay, detour, or “not yet,” lies a deeper opportunity to trust the process, to reflect with grace, and to grow with intention. Patience, after all, is not about slowing down it’s about showing up with presence. And if all else fails... take a breath, pour a cup of black coffee, and remember, even bamboo takes five years to grow roots before it shoots up overnight.

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Let us question ourselves

 

Reflective Questions for Parents, Teachers, and Students

    • When was the last time I chose to pause rather than push?
    • In moments of frustration, do I look for the cause or rush to conclusions?
    • How do I model patience in my words, my body language, and my expectations?
    • Am I creating space for others to grow at their pace or expecting them to match mine?
    • How often do I listen deeply without trying to respond, solve, or redirect?

 

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” — Saadi Shirazi

 

Reference: 

García, H., & Miralles, F. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life. Hutchinson.

Schnitker, S. A., & Emmons, R. A. (2007). Patience as a virtue: Religious and psychological perspectives. In Research in the Social Scientific Study of

               Religion (Vol. 18, pp. 177–207). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004158511.i-301.69