Patience is one of the best virtues to have, yet, it is one of the virtues most challenging to obtain. The level of patience anyone can have will differ from person to person. One may have a considerable amount of patience that can tolerate anything for almost a long period of time. Then there are some who have patience stretched too thin that one mistake affecting them would mean as if it’s the end of the world. Indeed the level of patience may be different between us.
Not everyone may have the most prolonged patience, but it does have the distinction that it is among the virtues that can gradually and steadily be learned. Having patience requires a lot of mental fortitude. Patience is also best taught to younger kids. While patience is at its lowest the younger we are, it is also when kids can develop it easier, just like in the Children’s book called “The Song of Solomon the Snail” by Children’s book author Caroleann Rice. In it, the title character of Solomon Snail teaches patience to the children of a ladybug called Dot. In the end, Dot and Solomon become good friends.
Gaining Patience
Ironically, gaining patience will require a lot of patience. It will also need a lot of practice. Like the children of the ladybirds in “The Song of Solomon the Snail,” patience will require a lot of practice. Patience also requires you to build a habit willfully since to earn more patience, the person aspiring it must have the capacity to really want it. For people seeking to increase their patience, instant gratification would be the most substantial obstacle. After all, who does not want to get what they want there and then? However, should we power through this instant gratification, our rewards will be the sweetest we’ve ever tasted since.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness means to be in the present moment without judging. Try to meditate and observe your surroundings. Focusing and minding on your breathing pattern can help you stay in the present. Do this exercise, observe what distracts you, and ease yourself back to your breath when you get distracted.
Accept Your Current Situation
There will be times when you are stuck in an unavoidable situation. Try not to get angry or move around. Think: “It is what it is .” Stuck in traffic? It is what it is. Stuck in a mindless job? It is what it is. Remember, however, that this is just exercise. It does not mean that you need to be resigned to your current circumstances. It just means to be mindful of your current situation.
Create a Tolerance to the Uncomfortable
Nobody ever wants to be uncomfortable. The word exists for a reason. Even our natural instincts will trigger unconditionally whenever we are uncomfortable. This time, letting our impulses get the better of us is detrimental to our goal. We want to build patience, which means being able to withstand unfavorable and uncomfortable situations for a more extended period of time. We wouldn’t be able to do so if we didn’t try to steep into the uncomfortable.
Slow Down Sometimes
Despite a culture that emphasizes speed and efficiency, try to go against that grain and slow down. Maybe you’ll find a new perspective along the way. Slow down and see the world in a different way from others.
Be playful
Being too serious about yourself could also be the cause of impatience. Try to do away with that thinking and maybe think back to being a child a little. Use that mindset to entertain yourself the next time you are in line. Find ways to tolerate that slow line, and maybe you’ll enjoy the slow and patient life a bit more.
Let It Be
For once, let the title of a Beatle’s song dictate the situation for objects that are broken. Maybe it’s a work project or a personal relationship. Try to let it be for some time and try not to fix it immediately.
Try to be a Good Listener
Not everyone can be a good listener. More often than not, people are too excited to talk over or reply to what somebody is saying. Like in letting things be broken for a little longer, try not to talk a bit longer. Instead, focus on understanding the situation. Instead of rushing to form an answer, try to read and analyze what is being said more.
Patience is not an easy trait to get, but it would prove to be very useful in the long run. It allows you to be calmer and less rattled. Should you gain patience, it will give you a breath of fresh air and a new perspective that might help you in your daily life.
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