Patience takes practice. That’s the tricky thing about patience. You can’t rush it, because then you aren’t being patient. Practicing being patient must be an active behavior you work toward every day. “Patience isn’t passive,” says Harriet Griffey, author of “Practicing patience” for Wellness Journal magazine. Instead, “it’s an active choice to not react negatively when things take time or turn out differently to what you expected.” Griffey explains that patience helps to better your self-regulation skills and helps your long-term goals. Continue reading to learn more about how you can practice patience.
It’s an Active Choice
Accepting that things may not turn out how you have hoped is an important skill to have because not everything will go your way. Patience is knowing that what you need will come when you need it, so you are content with waiting. Patience is something you must choose every day.
Impatience
“On the flipside, impatience is the uneasy restlessness and familiar feeling of agitation that stirs up when things aren’t happening to your given timeframe,” explains Griffey. “Perhaps you aren’t who or where you wanted to be by now. Whether your destination is mental, physical, or emotional, frustration builds up, tolerance wanes, and aggravation overtakes the ability to accept the present for what it is.” This is important to keep in mind when you are on your journey to recovery. Things might not happen in your timeframe, and that’s okay. As much as we wish they didn’t, relapses occur. You must give yourself the time and space to get through them in a healthy manner, giving yourself patience as you get back on track. You will reach your destination in due time.
Ideas to Try From Griffey
- “Consciously respond to life’s little ups and downs.”
Remember: you choose to be patient just like you can choose to be impatient. Start with something small and work your way up to be patient with the big things. Challenges are everywhere. Embrace them.
- “Use patience to help you achieve your long-term goals.”
Success is something that can be difficult to reach. Results don’t happen overnight. Take this as an opportunity to practice being patient and waiting for what you deserve.
- “In moments of impatience, start to relax your body from your head down to your toes.”
You can probably feel your body tense up when you are feeling impatient and restless. Take a deep breath, stretch, and loosen up. Recognize that tension you feel, then allow yourself to release it.
Arbor Behavioral Healthcare is here to help you learn patience during your recovery. We have programs that will benefit you. Call us today at 844-413-2690 to learn more. We cannot wait to speak with you!