Joyce Meyer hit the nail on the head when she said that! I used to like to do things now. I wanted things to happen fast. Immediately, if not sooner! But I, like so many working on building a better life, noticed this doesn't always serve the greater good, the situation, or me. Being so focused on performing at work for so long and living in the stress that engendered in me - trained me to apply urgency everywhere! Not great!
In my quest to invite greater ease into my life, I have been teaching myself to get my body to be as relaxed as is feasible at the moment when I notice myself amping up. It has opened my eyes to the value of the pause and in patience. Here are some additional strategies I find helpful in cultivating patience.
Visualizing Success: This is the most significant help to me! If I imagine a positive outcome and remind myself of my goals. This also helps with persistence and discipline!
Setting Realistic Expectations: Recognizing that delays and obstacles are a natural part of life, and this acceptance helps immensely.
Breaking Tasks into Smaller Steps: When I'm faced with a large task, breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps can help me maintain my patience and motivation.
Setting Boundaries: Learning to say "no" calmly and establishing boundaries helps me manage my time and energy, reducing frustration and impatience.
Learning from Mistakes: Understand that making mistakes is a part of life. Instead of getting frustrated, I try to see them as opportunities for learning and growth. I try to see gifts and opportunities everywhere!
Staying Flexible: I am more open than ever to changing plans when necessary. I realized that sometimes, my impatience arose when I resisted adaptation.
Practicing Delayed Gratification: This is also a biggie for me. As I learn to save more to support my son's college education, I am challenging myself to wait for rewards, whether it's in terms of purchases or other forms of immediate gratification.
All good things! Remember that cultivating patience is a gradual process. Be patient with YOURSELF as you work on becoming more patient overall. Over time, I think you'll find that this skill can lead to a more peaceful and fulfilling life!
Here is a link to a short article with more ideas. I am a big fan of the priorities list!
https://medium.com/butifulrelations/the-art-of-patience-43e507288077
