Become More Patient

The quality of patience goes a long way toward your goal of creating a more peaceful and loving self. The more patient you are, the more accepting you will be of what is, rather than insisting that life be exactly as you would like it to be. Without patience, life is extremely frustrating. You are easily annoyed, bothered, and irritated. Patience adds a dimension of ease and acceptance to your life. It’s essential for inner peace. Becoming more patient involves opening your heart to the present moment, even if you don’t like it. If you are stuck in a traffic jam, late for an appointment, opening to the moment would mean catching yourself building a mental snowball before your thinking got out of hand and gently reminding yourself to relax. It might also be a good time to breathe as well as an opportunity to remind yourself that, in the bigger scheme of things, being late is “small stuff.” Patience also involves seeing the innocence in others. Since I have young children at home, I have many possibilities to practice the art of patience. For example, on a day when both children are firing questions at me as I’m trying to make important phone calls, I’ll say to myself, “Now is a great time to be patient. For the next half hour I’m going to be as patient as possible (see, I’ve worked hard, I’m up to thirty minutes)!” All kidding aside, it really works, and it has worked in our family. As I keep my cool and don’t allow myself to be annoyed and upset, I can calmly, yet firmly, direct my children’s behavior far more effectively than when I get crazy. The simple act of gearing my mind toward patience allows me to remain in the present moment far more than I would if I were upset, thinking about all the times this has happened before and feeling like a martyr. What’s more, my patient feelings are often contagious, they rub off on the kids, who then decide, on their own, that it’s no fun to bother Mom. Being patient allows me to keep my perspective. I can remember, even in the midst of a difficult situation, that what’s before me, my present challenge, isn’t “life or death” but simply a minor obstacle that must be dealt with. Without patience, the same scenario can become a major emergency complete with yelling, frustration, hurt feelings, and high blood pressure. It’s really not worth all that. Whether you’re needing to deal with children, your boss, or a difficult person or situation-if you don’t want to “sweat the small stuff,” improving your patience level is a great way to start.