 |
| Patience: the ability to stay emotionally and physically calm no matter what action is taking place in your life. |
 |
| First and foremost, patience is a feeling of peace and surrender. We imagine God to have an ocean of infinite patience for each and every one of us in whatever chaos we create in our daily lives. Each person also has the ability to create a space for infinite patience in their own inner selves. Remember that it is not our job to stand in judgment of anyone’s choices—good or bad. This job is held by the Laws of the Universe, Karma, and God. If someone is unfair to you, it is not your job to pay that person their due. Instead, make the decision to drop the whole incident in the ocean of infinite patience: Kerplunk!!! For Example: My ex-husband is not a good dad. He is late picking up the kids. He is impatient with them and breaks his promises constantly. Developing a mindset that it is not your job to make him do right by the children relieves you of the responsibility of keeping track of his shortcomings. What a relief to know he is no longer your concern! Place his outrageous fate in God’s ocean of infinite patience: Kerplunk!!! There are times when patience will not be enough to contain an emotionally charged event. Sometimes things just explode. Handling the mess afterwards is just as important of a task. Bad habits like shutting down for days with loved ones or carrying resentment for days, months, and years are useless. God is the only one who can manage that kind of emotional pain. The practice of patience can resolve these bad habits. Finally, having patience is a difficult art. To master it, you must practice it daily. Try practicing your patience with the people and events in your everyday life: Children Husband Traffic Rude people Family Cleaning Broken Machines Friends Receiving bad news Practicing this exercise daily will bring a greater capacity for patience into your life. Awareness of your own patience is the goal. Exercise: 1. Find a quiet spot. 2. Sit down. Get comfortable. 3. Close your eyes. 4. Clear your mind. 5. Say to yourself, “I have an ocean of infinite patience that trickles in all of my relationships and daily actions.” 6. Repeat this phrase until you begin to feel like you are creating a space for infinite patience in your inner dialogue. 7. End the exercise by saying to yourself, “My work is done for now. Thank you. Peace.” In times of impatience, say to yourself, “I have an ocean of infinite patience.” Practice patience daily. |
