The Greatest Virtue Of All.  A message from Sandy

“Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure.

Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success.”—-Brian Adams

Patience is defined as a state of endurance during a time of difficulty. This could be described as exercising restraint, and holding steadfast when life is less than comfortable. The difference between a man of zen-like calmness and a man with a temper is the ability to exercise patience. It is the one virtue that allows a person to feel good, to be calm, and live successfully no matter the circumstance.

Several religions preach the importance of obtaining patience. Patience will lead to a healthier, more successful lifestyle. People with patience generally have an easier time creating lasting relationships, have more successful marriages, and a better all outlook on life, not to mention, lower blood pressure, and an abundance of empathy which enables you to live more harmoniously with those around you.

Here’s some tips to help us all exercise patience:

• Re-frame situations that test your patience. If waiting, for anything, drives you crazy, find something to do during that time —audio-books, or your iPhone—that alone can keep you entertained for hours.
• Remind yourself that the world isn’t just about you.
• When you feel impatient, stop yourself, take a few breaths, and try to calm down.
• Exercise regularly to relieve tension and irritability.
• Avoid caffeine is excess if it tends to make you jittery.
• Get enough quality sleep. Being tired is a huge cause of impatience.

What do you do to exercise patience? If you have a good tip pass it along.