We all get impatient from time to time. We have to deal with circumstances that are out of our control. And that feeling of wanting to be in control causes our impatience.
We want things to go our way. We need it to be like this or otherwise we can’t do that. We need to be in time and get it done. Others need to listen, hurry up and act properly as we expect.
All those things would not even be an issue if we’d learn to slow down instead of speeding up. But let’s assume you haven’t learned this lesson yet and you want to learn how not to lose your patience. What can you do? How can you make life easier for yourself and your environment?
Let’s take a closer look.
What if
So imagine a scenario. What if you would actually arrive a few minutes too late? Would you fall of the earth? Would things turn out that bad that you would have to lose your temper over it? Would losing your temper make you catch up with the time or would it just turn everything against you?
What if things don’t turn out like you have in mind? Maybe the universe has something else in store for you and wants you to take a different turn in order to get to where you really need to be. Sometimes, what seems a bad thing will turn into a good thing.
Control
Why should you get irritated or angry over something you have no control over? It will just make things worse. Control makes things rigid. It limits the possibilities and the potential to where things can evolve.
You can only guess what happens if you control things your way, but you’ll be surprised what happens if you learn to let go of that control, and start listening carefully, paying attention to what is happening around you, let things unfold naturally and act accordingly.
Life would be a lot more friendly and you’d discover you wouldn’t have to lose your patience. Let the flow take it’s course.
It doesn’t mean you need to let go of everything and anything, but when you notice that you are losing your temper, your calm, and your good positive attitude, the alarm bells should start ringing.
Letting go
And what if you would let go… of control, of your wants and wishes, your cravings and desires? What if you would let go of that fixed mindset and surrender?
I don’t mean giving in while silently holding your anger or frustration, but truly surrender to the moment in front of you.
Now let’s allow the moment for what it is. Take a step back and calm yourself. Take a deep breath in and slowly breath out as long as you can. Let go of any resentful thoughts. Remove yourself from the old equation, from how the situation appears to you at the surface, and look at it with a fresh pair of eyes and an eased heart and mind.
Now observe… look… and try to see things from a different perspective, a new angle, and find the sparkle and beauty of what is in front of you. A burden will fall off of you. You will feel lighter and relieved.
Realise you can choose to be free. Free from losing your temper, from feeling angry, and free from that uncomfortable negative feeling that sucks the life out of you. Those feelings don’t contribute any value to your precious life. Choose to be free of that.
Practice
Now practice this. Say to yourself three times a day (in the morning, afternoon and evening) “I choose to be free” and think about what that means to you. Every time you encounter a situation where you feel overwhelmed, where you are likely to lose your patience, feel the urge to get irritated or angry, say to yourself “I choose to be free”. Smile, take a deep breath, breath out real slowly and feel the calmness arise.
Be free.
Please share your comments below. I’d appreciate it.
I always remind myself to be compassionate to myself and to others. To be understanding and forgiving.
Steph
Hi Stephanie,
Those are three key words. Beautifully said.
Best,
Klaus
Thanks mate.
I just needed a little patience.
Hi Craig,
Be free my friend.
Best,
Klaus
There is more. If you find yourself surrounded by unhappy people so that nothing you do makes them happy, maybe it’s not you that makes you feel impatient. Maybe there is a way to redirect the focus so the unhappy people can see what they are doing.
Why no comments after 2017?
With impaired eyesight, I have great difficulty in reading much of what is written as the light colours and lack of contrast – student of Practical Philosophy
Hi Peter,
No comments after 2017, probably because I hadn’t written in a while.
Best,
Klaus