The reason for a patience blog is twofold. First, I so often hear people thinking they must be a certain enneatype – and this assigned type varies based on that individual’s perception – because they are “impatient.” However, patience and impatience do not go with type! The second reason is that almost everyone I know perceives themselves as impatient, and they mean this not in a positive way.

So what is patience? Taking the positive connotation, patience means a number of things: composure; stability; calmness; self-possession; the ability to handle delays or endure headship; lack of irritability when things don’t go your way or go your way quickly; to be able to proceed without complaint; acceptance of things as they are; and forbearance under strain.

To support all of us in being in patience, here are some quotes about patience – quotes that support the development of this quality in each enneatype – plus an explanation of why the concept in this quote may be useful.

Ones | “The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” Paul Coelho
Why this quote | Because Ones want to get everything “right,” perhaps realizing that there are “right” or better moments for everything to occur, that there will be disappointments with what could be so much better, and that this is how things are.

Twos | “All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy….” Orson Witney
Why this quote | Because Twos want to help everyone not suffer, they may forget that there is truly a purpose to all suffering, and that experiencing suffering is important for the growth and development of us all.

Threes | “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” A.A. Milne
Why this quote | Because Threes believe they have to organize everything so that there is a flow to events, they may forget that flow is actually a river that does not hurry or rush, and that this is the natural order.

Fours | “If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?” Rumi
Why this quote | Because Fours can become easily irritated by minor or perceived slights, they may not realize that every time they react this way, it leaves an invisible scar inside themselves, one that need not be there.

Fives | “Patience and wisdom walk hand in hand, like two one-armed lovers.” Jarod Kintz
Why this quote | Because Fives thirst for wisdom so fervently, they may not understand that this will come, if it comes, with time and full engagement.

Sixes | “Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it.” Margaret Atwood
Why this quote | Because Sixes are the ultimate planners for removing obstacles, they may not realize they can go around obstacles when they arise and, therefore, do not need to do extensive pre-planning for how to go through them.

Sevens | “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Aristotle
Why this quote | Because Sevens want the sweet with such fervor, they may not recognize that through the bitter there is a profound and beautiful sweetness.

Eights | “He that can have patience can have what he will.” Benjamin Franklin
Why this quote | Because Eights want their will to be done and move so quickly into making this materialize, they forget that the greater will from the bigger truth requires them to stand still so there is time for this to happen.

Nines | “There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.” Lemony Snicket
Why this quote | Because Nines tend to stay in inaction, they think that the opposite of this is taking action constantly when, really, it needs to be a balance between the two and knowing when to stay and when to move.