How to develop patience
Patience is a difficult commodity in this world of instant communication and gratification, where it seems that you can click away whatever unpleasantness comes your way. However, patience is still required for so many things: a job search, buying a home-and getting a mortgage- personal relationships where one person is ahead of the other and needs to wait, etc. Since many things today are geared to speed, it takes extra effort to cultivate patience. Here are some tips that help:
Find joy and peace in the simple things in your life. Realize that everything is a process, and not everyone or everything is on your timetable. Be grateful for the things in your life that give you pleasure now. In fact, focus on and cherish them when you are waiting for something or someone else to come your way
Rise above your immediate desire. When we are focused on one particular goal and it is taking its own time, or is delayed for any number of reasons, we can become frustrated or angry. Try not to go there, and if those feelings arise, let them go. Believe that although you have a burning desire for this thing or person for which patience is required, understand that this is only an idea in your mind that has whatever weight you give it. When you achieve this goal or are with that person, your life may not even be appreciably better- so relax.
Don’t deny what you intuitively know, and have faith. Our intuition can be the key in situations like this where patience is required. Get in touch with what you really feel about the situation through meditation or prayer, and have faith that this information will sustain you for however long you need.
Feel your own strength. At a time when patience is needed, it is always good to do things that make you feel strong, and to be around people who make you feel strong. Strength is the key to getting through whatever waiting time is needed.
Know that things can change in a second. The situation you see as so fixed and requiring a long wait can change in a second, and all barriers can be lifted at the most unexpected time. Knowing this helps sustain whatever wait is required.
Keep your actions and thoughts as pure and sincere as possible. The best possible energy to achieve any goal occurs when your intentions are sincere and pure. This is admittedly a hard thing to achieve, but worth the effort. Think of your energy as pure light or a laser, and make a conscious effort to keep your energy as unfiltered as possible.
