The Power of Patience by M.J. Ryan

A popular and habitually used cliché goes, "patience is a virtue". It may be overused but still very true. In this fast paced world, patience is one of the most overlooked values. However, revaluing this old-fashioned virtue can lead you to bigger achievements and more success stories to tell. This is what the book is all about: to understand the importance, benefits and urgent necessity of patience and to be able to learn the ways and means of developing this essential quality.

Patience Gifts:

Patience could be one old-fashioned quality that most people take for granted but it could be the one, if not the only, means to lead a more satisfying and fulfilled life. This virtue, which is spiritual and inspirational in nature, can make you more appreciative and grateful to life. This promises a life where there's less whining and more laughter.

Some of the overlooked gifts of patience are as follows:

Patience creates excellence

Patience brings us into harmony with the cycles of nature

Patience helps us make better decisions

Patience connects us to hope

Patience helps us live longer and more stress-free

Patience helps us waste less time, energy and money

Patience gets us more of what we want

Patience guards the door to anger

Patience gives us greater tolerance and empathy

Patience helps us have happier love relationships

Patience makes us better parents

Patience teaches the power of receptivity

Patience is the heart of civility

Patience grows our souls

Attitudes of Patience:

Patience enables you to cultivate certain attitudes. These attitudes are actually the ones that help you get by when situations push you to your limits.

I'm still learning

Patience is a decision

This too shall pass.

The screws are just as important as the wings

Waiting is part of being alive

It's better to work at it than to buy your way out of it

Where are you hurrying to? It takes as long as it takes

Boredom is all in our heads

Tuning out is as important as tuning in

What does this matter in the larger scheme of things?

People are only human

Some things are worth waiting for

There's more than one right way

Welcome, teachers of patience

There's a time to wait and a time to pedal like mad

The Practices of Patience:

Self-awareness is the ultimate key towards cultivating patience. For awareness to be fully nurtured, you have to expose yourself to certain practices. At first, invoking patience should be a choice you have to make. But through constantly choosing to engage patience when nature calls, the act would simply convert into habit without you necessarily becoming aware of it.

Here are some practices of patience:

Measure your patience level

Tune in to yourself in the morning

Take a breather; Keep your blood sugar level up

Road sage, not road rage

Issue a storm warning to children

Tap into your inner wisdom

Reframe the situation; find something else to do

Practice with aging parents and other elders; Respond from your heart

Underwhelm yourself

Ask yourself: Is this thing still flying?

Some Simple Patience Boosters:

Put emphasis on how far you've gone doing a certain task rather than focusing on what is still left to do.

Do some brisk walking or jogging when you feel impatient or irritable.

Count to ten before choosing to blow off steam.

There are always simple solutions for things that frequently irritate you

Seek ways on how to disrupt your anger cycle

While waiting in line, try taking mental vacations

When your relationships are confronted with trials, take a moment to reflect on how you want to be remembered by friends and relatives when you leave this world

Encourage a pay-it-forward movement by thanking others for being patient with you when you were the one holding them up

Appreciate and celebrate small achievements you make on whatever project you take

Build some patience muscles by practicing walking meditation while waiting in lines

Getting impatient at work? Try doing the "rag doll" exercise by assuming a rag doll position and doing breathing exercises. This will help ease out the tension in your body

Practice the red-light meditation by noticing three breaths when heading towards a red light or hearing the phone ring

Try to be more mindful while doing your chores

Cut down, if you can't stay away, on caffeine

When listening to someone that irritates you, just put yourself in his shoes

During an argument, try asking yourself what you would rather prefer - the right way, your way or the effective way?

For an immediate booster shot, post inspirational quotes on locations that you always get a good view of

When a chore or a job overwhelms you, ask for assistance

Learning to accept your flaws and learning to laugh at your foolishness occasionally can ease you out of tension and anxiety