We All Need More Patience - NOW!
Patience is often the most confusing of virtues. For one thing,
many people don't realize that patience is learned! It doesn't
come naturally for most of us. Here are three areas in which
patience really does pay:
1. Goal setting. You've heard the saying that anything good is
worth waiting for. This doesn't mean simply sitting and doing
nothing, waiting for great things to happen to you. You have to
make them happen! When you sit down and write out your goals,
give yourself a realistic time frame. Remember, Rome wasn't
built in a day. Set mini-goals within larger goals so you can
get a better visual of your progress. You'll feel motivated by
your accomplishments when you see your plan developing.
2. Learning new skills. As we get older, it's not as easy to
learn new skills. We can become discouraged, and feel like
giving up. People who have been out of the work force for many
years are completely out of the technology loop, and it can be
challenging to get up to speed. Having a broken bone is the best
lesson in patience. Not that I'm suggesting you do anything
dangerous, but in this case patience is born out of necessity.
You learn how to do everyday tasks in a different way in order
to stay mobile. Taking up a sport, such as karate or yoga, may
feel awkward at first but with practice suddenly you feel like a
pro. I didn't get my enchiladas right the first dozen times, but
now they are restaurant quality. If I had given up after that
initial soggy mess, I don't know what I would serve at family
reunions.
3. Tolerance. Sometimes patience can mean enduring or
persevering in a difficult situation. We've all had issues with
bad drivers or demanding bosses - even dial-up Internet can make
our blood pressure go up. But we can use these as opportunities
to grow our patience. Instead of screaming at your kids when
they're not ready for school, think of all the times they've had
to wait on you. Impatience can make people lose their temper and
say something they really don't mean. By contrast, patience
promotes peace.
In this age of instant gratification, it is increasingly
difficult to accept what is out of our power. Learning patience
is truly an art. But it is an art worth learning for your own
health, happiness, and healing.