Developing Patience

Patience is something we seem to have less and less of these days. In this fast-paced age of the internet where all manner of things can be acquired in an instant, we have become used to instant gratification. We have become used to getting results NOW. We have become less able to cope with life’s everyday stresses. We have become less patient.
Patience of a Vulture
Without patience, life can be extremely frustrating. The less patience you have, the more you are easily annoyed, bothered, and upset. The more patience you have, the more you can accept the way things are rather than how you would like them to be. Patience will reduce your stress levels and improve your health and longevity. Patience is a quality that’s essential for true inner peace.

Patience is also a quality that can be improved with practice. Developing your patience is not easy, and you have to be motivated to do it, but do it you should.

Patience serves as protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind. - Leonardo da Vinci

On our quest toward self-improvement, increasing our level of patience should be high on our list.

Patience Practice Periods

An effective way to improve your patience is to create actual “patience practice periods.” These are periods of time you set up in your own mind to “practice” the art of patience.

You can start with as little as five minutes and build up your capacity for patience over time. Start by saying to yourself, “For the next five minutes I’ll be patient and I won’t allow anything to bother me.” What you’ll discover may amaze you. When you consciously and purposely intend to be patient, your capacity for patience immediately increases.

Your success with these “practice periods” – five minutes of successful patience – will feed on itself and you will discover that you DO have the capacity to be patient; even for longer periods of time. Notice the positive effects these “practice periods” are having on your life. See your anger and stress level decreasing and your overall happiness increasing.

Remember, for every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness

When you are stuck in a traffic jam, or are late for an appointment, and everything seems to be going wrong; when you catch every traffic light, and every one else seems to be moving in slow motion, say to yourself, “Now is a great time to be patient.” Take a patience practice period.

He that can have patience, can have what he will. - Benjamin Franklin

Improving your patience will help you to keep your perspective. Whatever it is that challenges your patience – a difficult person or situation – probably isn’t life or death. It is just a minor obstacle to deal with. Deal with it patiently, without anger or frustration, stress or high blood pressure. When you do, you will begin to enjoy many of life’s moments that used to frustrate you.

OK, so what does “Grasshopper” mean? Anyone who has known me for any length of time, knows how I like to use the terms, “Wise choice, Grasshopper” and “Patience, Grasshopper.” Let me explain:Kwai Chang Caine

Back in the ’70s, I loved to watch the tv series Kung Fu starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine. Caine’s mentor was a blind Shaolin monk, who I believe was named Po. He once told Caine to close his eyes and tell him what he saw. After doing so, Po asked Caine, “Did you not see the grasshopper sitting at your feet?” From then on, he called Caine “Grasshopper.” During his training to become a Shaolin Priest, Po would often tell his student that he made a wise decision or to be patient. Hence the title: Patience, Grasshopper

Gina
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