Patience. It’s considered one of the paramitas, the perfections. Patience prompts us to take our time, be kind, listen well, and to persist in our efforts, giving each portion its due. We practice patience – with ourselves, with others, and with the conditions that are taking us forward with so much uncertainty in these times. Conditions are always uncertain. Much of the time you may feel gratitude and appreciate your personal blessings, yes, but subtle or not so subtle stress may overtake you unexpectedly. Those are the times we tend to become impatient. And if we act our stress out with harsh words and sudden reactivity, that’s the time for self-compassion, and for reaching out to anyone who might have been harmed by our lapse. We’re not always our best selves, but we can be patient with each other. Repair is part of living a life of connection and practice. There are times that we need to make a special effort to repair harm done by our own impatience. It’s part of how we learn and practice with this paramita and is essential to well-being in our everyday life.
