Instead of staying put and simply trusting the process, impatience and the desire for control often get the better of us.
As it stands, trusting the process, giving something up to a higher power, or trusting time and the process to do its work is difficult.
But simply waiting and being patient is all that is required, and the sooner we learn this, the better for our overall well-being.
So, to help you better understand why you should sometimes just stay put and sit tight, here are the top 10 reasons why you should trust the process.
What does it mean to trust the process?
The most basic definition of trusting the process is allowing things to flow without controlling them.
My own definition of trusting the process is that there is only so much you can do. The rest is up to the natural law of the universe to do its job.
This is possibly why it is a difficult concept to accept and believe in because it is difficult for us to relinquish control of things.
We are always looking for ways to influence or control events and to make them happen. Not understanding that things take time to happen, to take root, to establish themselves, and to grow.
Sometimes it’s our (more of myself) impatience that causes us to pace and worry when all we really need is to trust that we’ve done everything we need to do. That we did our best.
So all we have to do now is stop obsessing over what’s gone and done. Stop stressing yourself out and just let things happen. Continue to do what needs to be done, and trust that the process will yield the best results.
10 Reasons why you should trust the process
Trusting the process entails allowing things to take their natural course, but it does not imply leaving things to chance.
Simply put, having defined your goals, established the steps, and completed the necessary work, what follows is an outcome that will not change to your desired outcome no matter how much you stress and worry about it.
Knowing you have done your part, your best bet is to wait it out, sit tight, and let things happen. Allowing things to run their course will greatly benefit you along the way.
What we are waiting for is not as important as what happens to us while we are waiting. Trust the process.
– Mandy Hale
1. Good for your health
Jitters, worry, and anxiety are normal reactions when significant events in our lives, good or bad, is about to happen.
The physical symptoms of anxiety include increased rapid breathing or heart rate. This increase in your breathing and heart rate allows rapid blood flow to your brain, where you need it. It is your body’s physical response that prepares you to face an intense situation.
However, when there is constant worry and anxiety in your daily life, it will have a negative effect on your physical and emotional well-being.
It is therefore important that you learn to trust the process. Accept that you cannot control everything in your life and learn to let go.
When you let go of the desire to control every aspect of your life, you will experience relief, calm, and happiness, and your health will certainly thank you for it.
2. Allows you to be more open to change
We cannot and should not expect our lives to remain constant because change is the only constant in life. To believe otherwise and to cling to the status quo will only result in heartbreak and disappointment.
Allowing things to follow their natural course and learning to let go allows you to be more adaptable to the constant changes that can and will occur in your life.
So, in order to keep up with constant change, you must simply trust. That, having completed what is required of you, the next steps will result in positive outcomes.
3. You become resilient
Life is not without its challenges and difficulties, as well as its share of hurt and pain. And for you to overcome the hurdles in your life, you must trust the process. Trust that by overcoming these obstacles you will develop and strengthen your resilience.
This resilience will provide you with the mental fortitude to deal with stress and adversity. The strength you will be able to rely on in times of need to get you through without breaking down.
When you are resilient, you will be able to move on and rebuild your life after overcoming catastrophic events and adversities.
4. You become more patient
The benefits of trusting the process do not always manifest in the time frame we desire; sometimes it takes longer than we would like.
As a result, trusting the process is an excellent way for you to learn and become more patient, thus developing your character and overall attitude.
5. Makes you grateful
When you learn to let go and let things be, you will be able to see the silver lining. Which will help train your brain to focus on the positive side of things and thus break the cycle of worry.
Allowing yourself to let go of the need for control will allow you to become more aware of the good things in your life. And to be thankful for their presence.
This shift in perspective allows you to feel more positive emotions. You will also value your experiences more, have better health, cope better with adversity, and form stronger relationships.
6. You develop a positive mindset
Trusting in the process allows you to develop a positive mindset. In fact, the mere belief is already a demonstration of a positive attitude that leads to success.
This is because having a positive mindset, or a positive mental attitude, implies that you are optimistic about the world around you. And believe that good things will happen as they should in due course.
When you learn to trust that things will work out in the end, you will have a better chance of achieving your goals. And with this positive mindset, you are positioning yourself for success.
7. You focus on the journey rather than the destination
Working toward your goal and learning to trust the process will teach you that it can be an internal motivator in and of itself.
Allowing things to happen as they should, after you’ve done everything you can, will allow you to enjoy the process of achieving your goal and increase your chances of success.
Because believing that you will eventually arrive and achieve your goals allows you to focus on the journey rather than the destination. You can then take pleasure and be proud of the steps you take along the way, including overcoming obstacles or setbacks.
Trusting the process is also about being mindful along the way. It is realizing that the journey toward your goals, learning, adjusting, and improving is a far better experience than the destination itself.
8. Fosters growth
Learning to trust the process while not knowing whether or not things will work out is definitely one way to foster growth.
Doubt, resistance, and discomfort are natural reactions to new experiences. And you will certainly wonder, “What if it doesn’t work?” This is especially true if you place a high value on your time and are already feeling overburdened by all the things you believe you must do and accomplish.
Still, you keep showing up, doing what you can do, and staying committed through the challenges, even when it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it, even when it doesn’t look like you’re getting where you want to go. That right there is growth.
The process itself does not change, but your attitude and discipline will, which means you will grow as a result of it.
9. Improves confidence
When you trust in the process, you believe you have what it takes to succeed. Your confidence in your skills and abilities will grow as you realize you have done your best and that the process will take care of the rest.
You know that you are not banking on luck. Because you put in the effort, the hard work, and the smarts to achieve your objectives. And this confidence in yourself will allow you to sit tight for a positive outcome.
10. Improves your planning and organization skills
Learning to let go and trust the process, as previously stated, does not imply leaving things to chance. On the contrary, it is more about planning and preparing for all of the unexpected events that may occur.
As it stands, this is also part of the process, hence Murphy’s law, which states that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” Budhha also stated, ‘The Unexpected will Happen, and the Expected will be Destroyed.’
As a result of expecting the unexpected, you learn and improve your planning and organizing skills.
And then trusting that with these in place, the outcome will be a success or, at the very least, a valuable learning experience.
How to practice and trust the process
When you trust the process, you must change your perspective on your goals and how to achieve them. So, here are some practices for encouraging this mental shift and increasing our trust in the process.
1. Let go
Keep in mind that you are not the sun, and the universe does not revolve around you. At one point or another, you have to let go.
Your desire to know, control, and predict everything will only lead to stress and anxiety. It also keeps you from noticing, let alone enjoying, the small victories, joys, and pleasures that come as a result of the processes that life has decided you must go through.
So, stop overreacting when plans do not go as planned. Stop attempting to manipulate outcomes, feelings, or other people’s thoughts. Stop fighting the things and processes that are inevitable.
Recognize that some things are simply beyond your control, and the sooner you practice letting go, the better for your health and enjoyment of life.
2. Do the necessary work
Let go but know that you are still required to do your part. So keep working and grinding and doing the best you can.
Trust the process but you need to go THROUGH the process. That is the grunt of work, pain, rejection, uncertainty, obstacles, worry, self-doubt, failure, long hours, blood, tears, and more tears. The works.
Going through and overcoming all of these stages of the process will help you grow and make your victory that much sweeter.
It is the difficult parts of the process that will make you shine and serve as a guide and inspiration for others to forge their own path and journey.
3. Focus on the value
When you trust the process, you shift your focus from the destination to the journey. So, as you progress, notice and focus on the value you add throughout the process of achieving your goal.
Your journey to achieving your goals will undoubtedly be difficult and will take longer than you anticipated. For sure, it will be a long and difficult one.
But, as they say, it is what it is. As long as you do your part, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride, bumps, smooth-sailing freeway, traffic, and all.
And, while you’re at it, take time to notice the simple pleasures, awareness, learnings, and rich experiences you come across. How you have added value to your life and that of others. These are more valuable than any treasure you may discover along the way. Keep them safe.
You will eventually arrive at your destination, but the experiences and lessons you gained along the way helped you get there and made you a better person overall.
4. Focus on things you have control
People want to be understood, to come to their own conclusions, and to be in control. But, as has been mentioned throughout this article, it is a fact of life that there are some things over which you have no control. And that you just have to be confident in any factors of it. Because the only thing you have control over are the actions you need to take to succeed.
Regardless of how minor this control is, focusing on it allows you to completely let go and live your life. Allowing amazing things to happen.
When you focus on yourself and your actions alone, you will also be able to stop worrying. About who you should be or what you should have achieved at a certain age. You stop wasting your time and energy trying to exert control over events.
Instead, you choose to learn from every experience you have. You give up your attachments to what should be. You maintain a positive attitude and look for ways to appreciate both positive and negative experiences that bring you closer to your ultimate goal.
Because, in the end, trusting in the process entails believing that good things will happen. Even if you only focus on what you can control.
5. Accept uncertainty
Life is never a straight line. It’s a series of ups and downs in which you strive to improve. You may never know the outcome of your actions today, but with action and faith in the process, your general direction will be upward.
Since the future is uncertain, it allows us to imagine, anticipate opportunities, and hope for new ventures and endeavors, sunshine, and rainbows. However, as a result of the same uncertainty, the future also brings with it fear, confusion, and anxiety.
And as humans, we are subject to the latter effect of uncertainty. This has been our curse for a long time.
We anticipate that everything will go according to our plans and our desires. But most of the time, our hopes are dashed. It’s easy for the unexpected to wash away our dreams, no matter how hard we try. As a result, we experience hurt, pain, and suffering, which causes us to be fearful and anxious about what is yet to come.
But if you accept and anticipate the many future possibilities, you can deal with the negative consequences of uncertainty a lot better.
How to Deal with Uncertainty
Recognizing that change, along with many unknowns, is unavoidable will provide you with the tools you need to deal with it effectively. You may not be able to influence every aspect of the future, but you can influence some of them.
How? By improving yourself.
Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.
– Jim Rohn
Nobody can predict the future, but you can develop the character and skills necessary to deal with it and distinguish yourself. You can plan for a better, albeit uncertain, future if you have courage, determination, and faith in the process.
So, believe in yourself and your abilities, but be prepared to face and overcome challenges. The future belongs to those who have faith in the outcome, who accept uncertainty and use it to their advantage.
6. Implement what you have learned along the way
Going through life and reaching for your goals provide many opportunities for learning. And by implementing what you have learned and will learn into practice, you can rest assured that the changes, the a-ha moment, and the realization will take place.
Trusting the process means knowing that as you perform each step, you will be guided to the next.
So keep an open mind, learn and expand your knowledge on as many topics as you can, and then put it all together as needed.
Go deeper by conducting additional research on your own. Listen to or attend expert-led seminars more than once. Master what you’ve learned before moving on to something new.
This will help you improve your approach to achieving your goals, which will ultimately lead to your overall success.
7. Remember that everything happens in its own time
The flow of time and events is unpredictable and is occasionally surprising to us.
Sometimes things happen, whether they are successes or failures, and you do not even have time to prepare for them. Other times, you wait for an extended period of time and nothing happens. But then, just as you are about to give up, it happens seemingly out of the blue. Because the time is right for it to happen.
There is truth in the Bible verse which says,
Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.
– Ecclesiastes 3:1
It is not up to you to determine when things should happen.
But it is up to you to meet all of the requirements, such as the amount of time you put in, the amount of effort and determination, persistence, enthusiasm, and love.
This is your role, and the universe will allow everything to fall into place when you are all grown and ready. And the time is right.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is not easy to live life, pursue your dreams, and succeed. Especially since we are hardwired as humans to seek control and dwell on the negative.
However, learning to trust the process and allowing things to run their course will greatly benefit you. For a variety of positive reasons, including improved health, confidence, patience, resilience, an open mind, and overall growth.
When you trust the process and allow your life experiences to shape you, your focus shifts from the ultimate achievement of your goals to the long, arduous, but fun and exciting journey. And everything will work out in the end.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about the Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Trust The Process in the comments below.