Steps to Increase Your Patience
Below are some steps that can help you to overcome the sense of impatience.
1. Keeping Track of Situations that Trigger impatience
Have a piece of paper ready and for a couple of weeks write down every time you are feeling impatient no matter how small it is. Write the date and whatever triggered that feeling. Do this each and every day. Be consistent. As you do this, you will become more aware of the factors, issues, and circumstances that cause the impatience and you can be better prepared for them.
Sometimes impatience will catch you by surprise where you just blow you top in hasty anger. You may feel worried or anxious about something. You may have concerns about family and work. Just keep track of each time and each situation and you will be able to see what it triggering the feelings of impatience. Something is at the center that feeling of impatience that you are having and it may not be something pleasant to realize but it is something that must be considered if you are to overcome this problem.
There may be areas in your life that are unhealthy or destructive. Relationships may need to be enhanced. Circumstances may need to be changed. If you keep tract, you will be able to identify some of these areas. As you go over the list, you will be able to be more objective in the situation. That objectivity will allow you to think outside of the box to get to the core issue.
2. Stop Rushing
When you feel as if you are being pulled tightly in multiple directions, you become more impatient and short tempered with others. i.e.: You are running late for work and your child, whom you have to drop off at school, isn’t ready yet. You yell and scream to try to hurry him not realizing the hurt and damage you may have caused in your coarse comunication. Why does it seem as if you are always in a rush? Did you prepare what was necessary to be on time?
Perhaps you should try a prioritization list also known as a “To Do” list. In the evening, make a list of everything that you need to for the following day and if any of them have a specific time when they need to be done… put those first with the time written down. Be realistic in the amount of time that it will take to complete the tasks. Learn to prioritize what is more important. Do one thing, check it off, do another, check it off. That way you are focusing on one thing at a time and you will not fee as rushed. On top of that, you will be able to see what you have accomplished for that day and be encouraged.
If it is too much to do and they all have to be done that day, seek help. Perhaps your children can help by cleaning the kitchen or laundry or other household things. Perhaps your husband can drop the kids off at practice this time. Plan your day with appropriate time for awakening in the morning to get out on time without rushing. It will cause you a more peaceful and relaxing attitude and your family will be happier for it.
3. Expect the Best but Be Prepared for the Worst
When you plan a trip, there is always something that gets left behind or something that happens that wasn’t planned for. It is ok. You must learn to be flexible. While we want the best to happen, it is important to be wise enough to plan for if the best doesn’t happen. Don’t expect what people just cannot give. Be realistic and accepting. Be forgiving and gracious and remember that you aren’t perfect either.
4. Forgive yourself
As I said in the previous paragraph, you aren’t perfect either. There are going to be times when although you expect the best of yourself, you are going to fall short. Don’t lost heart and don’t lose your patience. Accept it and move on ever trying to better yourself.
5. Release
There are some things that you just will not be able to fix. There are some issues that will stay there to test your patience that you will not be able to do anything about. However, because you now know that it is a trigger, you can be prepared to meet it head on without being concerned about losing your patience. So, take one step at a time. Make an effort to be more patience with the little things and you will eventually develop the patience of Job that wil bring you through many triggerhappy situations. Think about the famous prayer below and pray it frequently if releasing is an issue for you.
"Lord, give me the strength to accept
the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Start putting into practice some of these ideas this week and then join me next week as we continue going over "Steps To Increase Your Patience".