In this day and age of instant gratification, practising patience is something we can all benefit from. I will be upfront with you, and I am not always very patient; it is, in fact, a virtue I have had to practice. There are still areas where my impatience takes over. 

I find it incredible how our relationship with speed has changed so dramatically over the last few decades. In the past, we could not expect next day delivery, now that has become the norm, and if it takes any longer than expected, we get upset. 

The same is happening with our relationship with other people. Because of the internet and social media, we expect an immediate response. More often than not, that is not a reasonable expectation, and we set ourselves up for failure. 

Many more people expect to climb the corporate ladder at turbo speed, and we have to fill our days with activities. 

For our sense of wellbeing, I feel that all of this has to slow down. I wonder if this speed is often an attempt to escape our reality because being fully in our reality can often be very uncomfortable. 

I write this as a message to slow down and be comfortable with not always being “busy” or “on the go”. At first, sitting with the feelings and thoughts that show up in those moments will bring forward discomfort, and over time, it will grow your strength to tolerate your life as it is. 

Learn to become patient.

My guides often say to me in meditation, “you are moving along your path exactly at the pace you are meant to. Not too fast and not too slow, just right”. That is a sentiment that I often try to hold on to. 

I want to bring forward a caveat of practising patience–we always have to find the balance of knowing when to practice patience and when we are wasting our time. I believe that can from having a distinct understanding of our intuition, boundaries, purpose, values and goals. Our intuition will tell us when we are wasting our time and when we need to be patient. 

Practising patience: how I do it 

I practice patience in a multitude of different ways: 

• When I am with people, I try to listen, and I mean really listen before responding to any of their content. 
• Release my expectations of myself and other people. I struggle with this a lot, and I often have to remind myself of what I am doing, setting unreasonable expectations. 
• Practice meditation. Every day, I sit in meditation for 15-20 minutes twice a day, which extends the degree of patience that I have with other people and myself. In the Spiritual Healing sessions that I do with my clients. Patience and learning to slow down are instrumental to the healing journey.
• Understand that everyone has their stuff to deal with and that all people are moving through a spiritual lesson. If I can hold onto that knowledge, I become more compassionate and understanding how other people. 
• Listen to my intuition and internal alarm bells.

Questions to ask yourself when you are practising patience

• Is this a moment to be patient?
• Am I wasting my time? Do I need to let go of this project?
• Have I set too high expectations?
• Should I continue working with determination?
• What is my intuition trying to tell me? 

My lessons from practising patience 

• Slowing down is ok. 
• I don’t have to fill all of my days with activities 
• I am enough 
• Clearly identify the distinction between practising patience and wasting my time. 
• Know when to walk away 
• Pause before responding
• Do not get “hooked” into other people’s energies and ways of being 
• Staying true to myself and my authenticity is my number one priority 
• It is ok for me to be impatient at times. Learn from that situation and then move on. Do not hold onto that one moment and let it define my day or week. 

I’d love to know how practising patience has helped you and what you find challenging about it. Please leave your comments in the section below.