Become More Patient

The quality of patience goes a long way toward our goal of creating a more peaceful and loving self. The more patient we are, the more accepting we will be of what is, rather than insisting that life be exactly as we would like it to be. Without patience, life is extremely frustrating. We are easily annoyed, bothered, and irritated. Patience adds a dimension of ease and acceptance to our life. It's essential for inner peace.
Becoming more patient involves opening our heart to the present moment, even if we don't like it. If we are stuck in a traffic jam, late for an appointment, opening to the moment would mean catching ourselves building a mental snowball before our thinking got out of hand and gently reminding ourself to relax. It might also be a good time to breathe as well as an opportunity to remind ourself that, in the bigger scheme of things, being late is small stuff.

Patience also involves seeing the innocence in others. I have found that, if we look deeply enough, we can almost always see the innocence in other people as well as in potentially frustrating situations. When we do, we will become a more patient and peaceful person and, in some strange way, we begin to enjoy many of the moments that used to frustrate us.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12