24 Aug Mindfulness Facts On Developing Patience

Here are some mindfulness facts on practicing patience. But first, you might wonder why we need patience in the first place? Patience is how well you are able control your impulses or emotions and stay calm in that moment despite it being a difficult situation.

When I was hungry last night, I ordered online and all I had to was wait 30 minutes. Not only was this order placed in an instant, the transactions went through immediately. Already this is faster than cooking at home, so why was I still impatient? Could I blame it on hunger? Sure, that seems somewhat reasonable.

But the minute I try to call the delivery executive and try to fasten the process, I become agitated and stress. And I’m pretty sure that stress will transfer to whoever is cooking my food or driving it home. Hence, the need for patience.

This was a small example for why we need patience.  When the situation is more intense, practicing small ways to stay patient will help you out in the future. For example if you are trying to lose weight, it is very important to stay consistent. But so many of us fall off the wagon because we expect results in a week or two.

So, here are 4 ways on how you can develop patience:

Choose one day to make patience your goal and do it: Your goal for the whole day is to be mindful and be thoughtful about your actions. At the end of the day, see your inner progress: Did you have at least one instance where you lived in the moment? Did you think before you spoke? Made smarter decisions? Got along better with someone?. Continue to practice this. Developing patience is like a mental workout, so be kind to yourself when you mess up, but stay consistent.

Be Slow. Sometimes we have the urge to rush things. STOP IT. Instead, slow down and take quite a few deep breaths. For example, whenever I am stuck in traffic, I like to look at the sky instead of get worked up. I consciously make the decision to pause.

Delay Impulses. Whenever we are quick to make decisions, we mess up. So whenever you are about the get that last piece of cake, second round of drinks, or that 3rd pair of shoes, think about it before you act.

Think before you speak. I’m sure a lot of us can attest to blurting out the first thought that pops up. Practice thinking before you speak so that you pause and process thoughts, and not hurt anybody.

Nehita Abraham

Nehita is a mindfulness expert who writes extensively on lifestyle management, wellness and ways to lead a healthier and a happier life. She is a part of Aware’s expert team on meditation. She is also an avid artist who spends most her time dribbling amazing stories through art.