Taking time

I am sometimes guilty of trying to be efficient all the time. Yet things will always take time to be better. In fact, sometimes the goal of efficiency undermines being able to do something effectively because we are stingy about the time or resources that we have to spend – in service of efficiency.

Yet when I put on my artist hat, I cease to consider efficiency. Sure, there may be deadlines for my painting or Chinese calligraphy works but there is no need to rush through the creative process. Putting some time constraints can improve the works but more often than not, the hurried mood is counterproductive.

Same with cultivating and building relationships. Or growing, gardening, bearing fruits. These things all take time. Question is, are you taking the time? Or just trying to move on to the next thing.