Saturday, August 22, 2009

Patience




Patience is virtuous and most of us wish we had more, don’t we? So often in life we lose patience with others. Lack or loss of patience, is operating under one's own agenda and not affording the other person the courtesy or love that would give them the necessary things they need. In other words we are not giving them loving allowance.

Losing patience is being self-focused, rather than being other-focused. We all have been guilty at some time of judging others, and when we become impatient we tend to blame the other person, yet, it really is a lack of sensitivity on our part of not understanding, ignoring, or not caring about the needs of another.

Patience, in its best light, is affording the other person to be in their own time, place, or space, and to be accepting of that.


"Patience is the companion of wisdom." ~ St. Augustine


During illness, impatience can easily appear for all involved–the patient, caretaker, observer–as the stresses of the situation build up. If you are able to put into action and proper perspective the needs of another you may discover that impatience will fade away.

Another aspect of patience is patience with self. Often, we are impatient with self by not loving ourselves enough to meet our own needs and to allow new experiences. When we have needs and desires and set them aside and deny our authentic self, we are not happy, and may become angry, resentful, and stressed out. Anxiety builds and that is not healthy.

In both areas of patience we have to learn to be allowing, to give others their space–and to grant that same to ourselves.


~Linda



4 comments:

Gemel said...

Great post :-)

Nancy said...

I need to hear that right now - I'm feeling very impatient with my husband.

Liara Covert said...

Just as a person begins to sense he is patient, the universe presents a situation to prove otherwise.

Ricky Kendall said...

I have come to realize that patience takes strength. When we are tired, downtrodden and lack energy we also lack patience. Patience and stregnth go hand in hand. It should be noted, however, that abuse does not warrant using energy for patience. It should be used to get out of an abusive situation.