“Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.”
Ovid
There are times in life that feel like motion, like momentum. And then there are times that feel like a waiting room—static, uncertain, caught between where you were and where you want to be. These moments, though quiet, can be the loudest of all.
I find myself thinking about the way time bends in these spaces. When you’re moving forward, time accelerates, days pass in a blur of action and purpose. But when you are in between—between jobs, between relationships, between clarity and confusion—time slows, thickens, holds you in place.
Waiting is an uncomfortable thing. It forces introspection. It invites doubt. It tests patience. But maybe it also serves a purpose.
The Illusion of Control
We are raised to believe that life is a cause-and-effect equation: work hard, make connections, do the right things, and success will follow. But anyone who has pursued a creative career—or any passion that depends on factors outside of their control—knows this is not always true.
You can send the emails. Make the calls. Put yourself out there. And sometimes, nothing happens. No rejection, no acceptance. Just silence.
This is where the real challenge begins. Because while rejection is painful, uncertainty is maddening. It leaves space for overthinking, for self-doubt to take root. Am I doing enough? Am I too much? Did I miss my moment?
And yet, if we take a step back, we see that every great story—every journey worth telling—has a moment of waiting. The in-between is part of the structure. The hero doesn’t always know what to do next. The road forward is often unclear. The moment of pause is not failure; it is a necessary beat in the rhythm of progress.
What Can Be Done in the Waiting?
If waiting is inevitable, the question becomes: how do we use it?
1. Shift the Perspective
Instead of seeing stillness as stagnation, what if we reframed it as preparation? As Marcus Aurelius wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.”
The work we do when no one is watching is often what determines how ready we are when the opportunity comes.
2. Focus on the Craft, Not the Outcome
It’s tempting to measure success by external validation—jobs booked, money earned, recognition gained. But those things are unpredictable. What is within our control is how we use the time we have.
- A writer writes, even when no one reads.
- An actor prepares, even when no role is in sight.
- A storyteller listens, even when there’s no audience yet.
3. Find the Small Wins
When the big goal feels too distant, look for the smaller ones: a skill improved, a connection strengthened, a personal insight gained. These may not feel like milestones at the time, but they are the stepping stones that lead forward.
The Road Always Moves Again
Heraclitus said, “Everything flows, nothing stands still.” The hardest thing to believe when you are in the middle of waiting is that the wait will end. It will.
One day, something will shift—a message will come through, an opportunity will appear, a door will open. And in that moment, you’ll realise that the waiting wasn’t wasted time. It was part of the story.
Wherever you are right now—whether moving forward or stuck in place—remember: stillness is temporary. The road will move again. And so will you.
