By Helna Charly

Are you the kind of person that has big dreams but is lazy? Do you want immediate results but procrastinate? Do you avoid stress or having expectations but only take action under pressure or when you have a deadline? That’s okay, there are lot of people like you, including me. We are like pieces of coal that can turn into diamonds if we learn to be patient and do well under pressure.

Patience is a person’s ability to wait something out or endure something tedious, without getting frustrated. Patience also involves being consistent in your actions over a long period of time. This means; showing up every day and putting in the work, even when you don’t feel like it or when progress is slow.

Some tasks like studying may feel tiresome at times. Getting stuck on questions or being unable to answer even after studying the concept over and over makes us feel frustrated, discouraged and want to give up. This is when we need to learn to be patient, to stay committed and persistent even when the results are not immediate or apparent.

The process takes time. It took a million years for diamonds to form. It’s going to take time for you to shine like a diamond. Just keep working and be patient. Patience also means being able to focus on the process rather than just the outcome. Try to enjoy the process of working towards your goals, and find fulfillment in the effort itself. While patience is important, being too patient without taking actions leads to procrastination, missed opportunities and slow progress towards goals. So, don’t be too patient.

The next value we can learn from diamonds is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity and move forward positively. It is an essential quality that can help us navigate the ups and downs of life. Research has shown that resilient people are better equipped to handle stress and are more likely to achieve their goals. Job interviews often include the question: “Can you work under pressure?” This question tests how well you manage stressful situations and tight deadlines. We students still have yet to face bigger challenges in the outside world. In today’s fast-paced work environment, the ability to handle stress and perform well under pressure is a valuable skill. Stress can affect our mental and physical health, leading to anxiety, depression, and even bodily illnesses. That is why, we need to learn to persevere through challenging times, build resilience and develop coping mechanisms that can help us better handle stress.

We can start by training to never give up on small goals like getting an answer right or learning something new even if you are bad at it. We need to learn from failure and setbacks, and using them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

The ability to focus on goals without getting overwhelmed by the pressure is key to shaping the right kind of character, just as carbon turns into diamonds under intense conditions. To live a diamond-like life means to use our resources in a worthwhile way and in service to others, whether time, energy, or money. By balancing speed and patience, and embracing the pressure that comes with it, we can achieve great things and make meaningful progress towards our goals. Just as a dull piece of coal turns into a bright and strong diamond.