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Recently, I heard an old story about three Japanese men. They were enjoying nature in a garden when a songbird came along. But the bird would not sing. The men wanted to hear the bird’s song, so they asked each other what they could do to make the bird sing.
The first man suggested they would just kill the bird.
The second man said they should try convincing the bird to sing by giving it some seeds.
Finally, the third man told them to wait until the bird wanted to sing.
This short story demonstrates the qualities of the three men: violence, diplomacy, and patience.
I have written about patience before, and this story inspired me to give you more information on cultivating patience in life and how it can benefit you.
Life demands so much, and we must make many time-sensitive decisions (so we don’t miss an opportunity). Uncertainty often causes us not to do the right thing, but there is rarely time for patience.
Self-control
Events can trigger emotions like fear, anger, or excitement. We want to act directly to control or satisfy ourselves in these situations. You can control your emotions and impatience unless there’s an imminent danger to life. Control yourself by avoiding distractions, urges to do something (productive), or wanting to deal with something directly.
Ask for time to reflect
I am a pleaser and don’t want to disappoint people. That means that I tend to say ‘yes’ and promise things that are difficult to deliver on time. You can always ask for time to think and reflect on questions, situations, and opportunities. People will respect that and will also accept a ‘ no.’
Listen to the voice within
Most of the time, I know when something doesn’t feel right. I feel it in my gut, my belly. Then, it’s time to step back and listen to the voice within.
Breathe
My favorite way of breathing is to breathe in through the nose, hold my breath for four counts, and then breathe out through my mouth. Please read more about ‘block breathing’ here or look it up using your search engine for more information about this technique. Breathing helps me to calm down and let go of emotions. It also helps me sing a mantra like this one for quietness, patience, and inner guidance.
Think about the long-term
As you think about your issue, think about how it will affect your life in the long term. Does it help you in reaching your goals? Do you have enough time and resources to handle your issue? How you react and what you decide will affect others. Think about how you can handle the situation gracefully when dealing with others (who put pressure on you).
Write
Writing in my journal about my impatience helps me deal with it and let go. I try to explain why I am impatient about the things I want and devise steps to overcome my patience.
Make smaller goals
Most of the time, we have big goals. They take time to realize. I can imagine being impatient to lose weight, earn a ton of money, or be successful in what you do. Take one step at a time to reach your goal. By making smaller goals and steps easier (and faster) to realize, you learn to be more patient for the big goal.
Exercise
Do an activity (walk, jog, or stare out the window). But do not watch a series on Netflix or a reel on social media. Your brain is still active, as if you would work. Exercising helps me to let go and think about other creative things (like what to blog about!). It also helps me let go of my issues and get more insights on handling them. This helps to be more patient.
Connect with your WHY and HOW.
If you want to deal with a situation more patiently, connect with your WHY. Since a WHY is always positive and actionable, it positively affects my emotions and mind. I have become happier and know what to do, which has helped me be more patient. Your WHY is your contribution and its effect on the world. It also helps me know HOW to handle a situation. Your HOWs are your talents, qualities, and the things you’re good at.
One of my HOWs is being enthusiastic. When I connect with my WHY, I can use my enthusiasm to deal with an issue. It also helps me make choices faster. If they align with my WHY, then I go ahead. If they do not, I don’t, which gives me time to work on other things.
Do you want to discover your WHY too? Contact us today and find out how we can help you or your organization.
!!Reading tip: What does a WHY session look like?
Time
It takes time to be patient. Breathe, reflect, and enjoy where you are while you’re waiting. I am sure the three Japanese men eventually heard the bird sing over time. In the meantime, they enjoyed each other’s company, drank tea, and watched the nature around them.
How do you cultivate more patience in life? Let me know in the comment box below. I, and other readers of this article, look forward to reading from you!
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