One of the Paramitas that we practice is patience. Patience prompts us to take our time, be kind, listen well, and to persist in our efforts. I surely notice for myself these days, and maybe you do too, that I am called on to practice patience — with myself, with others, with the conditions that are taking us forward with so much uncertainty.
I don’t exactly consciously feel stressed. Conditions are always uncertain. But if you, like me, are one of the lucky ones who spend much time feeling gratitude and appreciation for your personal blessings, subtle and not so subtle stress may overtake you unexpectedly, in the form an impatient or critical word and sudden reactivity. That’s the time for self-compassion as well as for reaching out to anyone who might have been harmed by your 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 can practice with this paramita and essential to being awake in our everyday life.
