Having known about and lived through the twelve-month cycle of the 12 Unity Habits for 30 years now, I welcome October as the month to rest my weary soul. I see peaceful joy in the breathtakingly colorful autumn nature show outside my home and office. I love the sense of calm and quiet appreciation of beauty that I feel under the influence of “Be Patient and Listen.”
This month’s celebration color is Slow-down LAVENDER. Whenever I see the color LAVENDER, I feel quieter, more tuned to listening, and more connected to those who pass through my day. Lavender encourages calmness and tranquility of mind and is useful for both self-reflection and invoking a relaxed, meditative state.
Think about being patient and listening as safety measures when you are driving. The accident statistics attributed to “road rage” are sobering. Driving is a time to remember something a friend of mine once said, “Help everyone that you can, and if you cannot help them, at least don’t hurt them.” Drive carefully this month, with caring and respect for others on the road with you.
From October 1st - The quality of patience reflects love of self and love of others. Without patience, we miss so much of life while hurrying on to the next thing. Without patience, we miss the beauty of other people.
Student created Bulletin Board for October, “Be Patient and Listen,” at South Hills Middle School in Pittsburgh, PA. If you could see the color, it is “Slow-down Lavender,” to enhance our memory to practice be patient and listen.
October’s Videos
Cosmic Comic Swami Beyondananda gives his unique take on the 12 Habits of Unity's Habit for October - “Be Patient & Listen.”
As the old Supremes song says, “You Can’t Hurry Love” – or for that matter, anything else worth having. In our hurry, scurry, worry world, we too often miss being present for the most important moments of our lives. Often, we get so attached to outcome – not to mention income – that we rush into things without taking the time to scrutinize, consider … and listen, not just to other people but to our own true calling.
I’ve often said that life is like a bag of M&M’s – moments and memories. The more present we are in the moment, the more vivid and vital the memories.
This is the month where, in the midst of doing our best, reaching higher, becoming involved, we seek – and find – the peace that passes all understanding. The reason it too often “passes understanding” is that those who are fervently pursuing happiness run past it! There’s a classic joke, “when God gave out patience, I got tired of waiting in line, so I didn’t get any.”
“If you can’t stop to smell the roses, at least slow down to look at them.”
– Swami Beyondananda
12 Habits Webinar - Episode 10
October's Habit - Be Patient & Listen
Humorist and Author Steve Bhaerman in Conversation with Elaine Parke, MBA, CS, CM, NSA, Communications Consultant & Author, creator of the 12 Habits of Unity, discuss the 12 Habits as a coherent, evolutionary practice that produces real results in the real world – and how you can “join the Up-Wising” and our exciting intentional experiment.
Explore October with us and remember to… BE PATIENT AND LISTEN.
Share Your Stories and Ideas to
be patient and listen in October here.
This revolution of good habits will grow because you act on the habits and because you have good ideas for spreading the 12 habits too. As an example, one dentist displayed monthly habits posters.. on the ceiling over his patients - and changed them each month. How COOL is that?? Share YOUR stories and ideas with us and we’ll feature them on the website so others can benefit from your sharing.