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After a year of working hard on his job, when Ronald didn’t get the annual appraisal on expected lines, he was frustrated and disgruntled. He expressed his dissatisfaction with his mentor, who told Ronald to be patient as these were tough times and advised him to talk to his superiors instead of letting the situation overwhelm him.
There are several similar situations we may find ourselves in. It could be a delayed promotion, postponement of exams or cancellation of a mega professional event that you had spent several months preparing for that could upset you.
It is in situations such as these that the importance of patience in life plays out.
How to be patient
It is important to understand that situations and people don’t always move at the pace we want them to. One should avoid being restless or taking steps driven by emotions like anxiety or anger. Lack of patience can quickly morph into harmful emotions like frustration, and it is crucial to prevent this. Staying calm and patient can help you stay focused on your goal.
Techniques to develop patience
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective steps that can help you be patient.
Identify the symptoms:
Impatience can cause certain physical symptoms that are, in many ways, similar to symptoms of stress.
Whenever you find yourself in a situation where it may be too difficult to remain patient, try and analyze your body’s responses and thoughts.
It is important to calm yourself down whenever you notice any of the following symptoms:
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Muscle tension
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Breathlessness
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Tightening of fists
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Faster heartbeat
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Anger and frustration
Slow down the pace:
It is usual to get overwhelmed by the hectic pace of life. However, patience can help overcome a lot of our daily challenges.
There is a popular saying that one should enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Similarly, we need to pay attention to certain processes and inculcate the ability to remain patient by learning to wait.
For instance, everybody hates long queues, but they are important not just for others but also for us. Security checks at airports or health scans ensure that we don’t face any avoidable risks while traveling. Thus, we need to wait patiently wherever needed.
We can start practicing patience by doing things like eating our meals in an unhurried manner, chewing the food properly, and savoring the taste.
Don’t waste time:
In the digital age, it is easy to get distracted and spend time on unimportant things. Some people get addicted to games, others to social media or binge-watching shows and movies online.
It is important to change such habits if you want to improve your productivity and reduce stress.
Whenever you feel a strong urge to do such things, just ask yourself how that action will add value to your life. Analyze your daily routine and weekly schedule. There are likely to be things that you could do without. Learn to stop indulging in activities that waste your time and add stress to your life.
Know your stress factors:
Life is busy and we all have to take care of a number of tasks every day. In such a scenario, people often make the mistake of trying to finish as many tasks as possible. This is commonly known as multitasking and multi-taskers are often seen as more productive.
However, in effect, this can cause impatience and may result in a feeling of frustration and dissatisfaction if you jump from one task to another without completing them. Hence, avoid making multi-tasking a habit, unless you can handle doing it all at once.
Do relaxation and meditation exercises:
The efficacy of deep breathing exercises is often underestimated. Taking slow deep breaths is a powerful relaxation technique. It helps you calm down mentally and physically. Hence, it helps in eliminating feelings of impatience or agitation.
One can also take relaxing walks or do meditation to get clarity of thought and to improve focus on important tasks.
Conclusion
We often lose our focus and ability to remain calm when there are setbacks or delays. You need to understand that these are an integral part of life.
Instead of being agitated, understand the importance of patience and practice it when you face common problems like getting stuck in a traffic jam or working with an uncooperative colleague.
Harappa Education is committed to facilitating your growth and interpersonal skills. We understand the value of patience in life and Harappa’s Leading Self course can help you develop it and understand its nuances. By learning how to be patient, you will be able to lay the foundation of a successful future for yourself.
Explore blogs on topics such as patience vs self-control and the importance of patience in our Harappa Diaries section to continue on your path of self-development.
