On Precipice of Patience
Excellence is a destination that some reach though the majority who do fail to succeed in it further, not because they lack ability, but because they lack the basic honesty to be patient with the self, or others for that matter. Aiming between discipline and patience for the self is a difficult tightrope that most often fails because of bad self-information or a lack of it, which is to say genuine reflection on self. Greatness is never achieved overnight but through steady consistent efforts that may require extreme limitations to overcome resistant error, for the purposes of moderation beyond what is initially possible.
Excellence relies heavily upon experience and strength in honesty, and so it takes a great deal of time. The path is therefore fraught with difficulty. The drive for excellence while in honest reflection eventually forces us into patience for self, and for others. The alternatives are in hubris, dependence, and envy, which are something of a nexus of sins to do most with blame, just shy of greed and delusion which are definite destinations in that cycle. To be patient with oneself is to accept that perfection is a myth, outside the singular in Jesus, and growth an imperfect process working against imperfection yet thus drowning in it.
Patience requires us to accept imperfections as the essence of our reality. Every step forward is a victory, and it can be very hard won. Patience extends beyond the self because its relief is a joy which must be shared with others. Expectations are good, and can even be great, so long as tempered by patience. Without patience, the ability for us to act in accordance with the best most godly interests of another is limited to forgiveness alone.