According to Wikipedia, the exact definition of patience is:
The state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering
in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a
negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain,
especially when faced with longer-term difficulties.
Basically, being patient is the ability to tolerate when things get tough. The process of becoming more patient takes practice, and lots of it. Patience is vital to your mental well-being and your success in life. The more patience you embrace, the likelier you are to be viewed positively by your peers and supervisors, not to mention your family and friends. Implement these 4 tips to help you become more patient:
Triggers – Pay closer attention to when you lose your patience, and you may be able to start seeing trends. Is it when your co-worker does something particularly irritating? Or when your partner leaves their laundry on the floor right next to the hamper? Certain triggers will happen more often than others and these are the things you should focus on most. To begin becoming more patient, you have to understand what your triggers are. Then you can counteract it by doing calming exercises whenever you feel it building up.
Tally Marks – Take this approach when you feel yourself becoming impatient: simply keep tally marks on a sheet of paper every time you lose your patience. It is a visual way to track your emotions. This effective method teaches you to control your emotions by learning to become more aware of them. Once your awareness grows, you can begin to strategize a reaction plan.
Keep It In Perspective – Sometimes the littlest of things can get us upset. It’s important to remember that in the grand scheme of life, these things are not life altering. In the heat of the moment it’s easy to forget this. Instead of getting worked up over something minor, take a deep breath and put things into perspective.
Pocket Pebble – Put a small pebble in your pocket or a specific spot in your desk. When you start to feel irritated, move it from one pocket to another or from one spot to another. The act of moving the pebble will interrupt the impatience cycle and give you a chance to put your emotions in check.
Motivational Quotes to Inspire More Patience
- A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else. — George Savile
- Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time. — Jon Kabat-Zinn
- It is hard! But what cannot be removed becomes lighter through patience. — Horace
- Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions. — Pema Chodron
- Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. — Anonymous
Did you know that impatience is an emotion on the anger spectrum? It starts with irritation and frustration and then can quickly become annoyance and even rage. The next time you begin to feel your patience fleeting, take a deep breath and know that you can get past this.
By: Rebecca Clausen