How do you react when your internet takes time to load or when you are stuck in traffic or standing in a long queue? Do you keep your cool or do you lose your temper and curse your luck? More often than not, people get angry and frustrated when things don’t go their way. If this happens to you as well, you need to learn how to be patient and calm in unwelcoming situations.
Patience is the ability to stay calm in the face of disappointment, distress or suffering. However, in this digital age where we are used to instant gratification, patience can be hard to come by. Losing your patience occasionally is normal, but doing so frequently can cost you your relationships, damage your reputation, increase your stress and worsen a difficult situation.
Cultivating patience is a rewarding process that is certainly worth pursuing. It makes you stronger and more resilient. You also increase your chances of having a successful job or career. Patience can also improve the quality of your friendships and relationships. But ultimately, the most important benefit of being patient is that it helps you lead a calmer and joyful life.
Here are some excellent ways to find your Zen and become a patient person.
Slow down
A great way to become a patient person is to learn the art of waiting. According to a study, slowing down or waiting for things can make you happier in the long run. To develop this habit, you need to start small. Instead of eating your dessert in one go, eat slowly and savour the experience. Instead of binge-watching your favourite TV show on a weekday, wait for the weekend to arrive. You will derive more joy out of the delayed gratification and manage your time better too. You will soon realise the more you practice patience, the more you will be able to apply it to hectic and stressful situations.
Identify your triggers
Find out what sets you off—it could be standing in a queue, careless drivers on the road, technical interruptions at work or being made to wait. Notice how impatience manifests, especially when people or situations do not conform to your expectations. When a situation is beyond your control, it can be a trigger for impatience too. Make a list of things that cause you to become impatient. Write down the details of a situation that frustrated you in the past. When you recognise what causes you to lose your patience, you can examine your actions and manage your reactions to these triggers.
Pay attention to situations and behaviours that trigger impatience in you. Keep a record of past frustrating situations and analyze your reactions. By identifying your triggers, you can better manage your reactions and work towards becoming more patient.
Practicing empathy towards others can defuse restlessness and impatience. Recognize that impatience only leads to more stress and conflict, and choose to be considerate and patient instead.
Regular meditation can calm the mind and body, increase tolerance for stress, and help you let go of past frustrations and future anxieties.
Cultivating gratitude helps develop more patience and self-control. Mindfulness allows you to be present in the current moment, helping you respond to situations with patience and choose your reactions consciously.
Comments