The Benefits and Importance of Being Patient
Patience is the ability to accept and tolerate difficulties, delays, and uncertainties with strength, calmness, and focus. In other words, it refers to the ability to remain even-tempered in the face of any upsetting situation. However, being patient is a quality that very few possess.
Nowadays, knowing how to wait has been replaced by the immediacy of an increasingly demanding and technologically-centered reality. Nevertheless, it turns out that, in many ways, we’re also still the same as before. Increasing revolutions in the pace of life prevent us from dealing with things properly and in due time.
That’s why in this article we’d like to talk about the benefits and importance of being patient and what we can do to develop this quality.
The importance of developing patience
The importance of being patient lies in the possibility of making us stronger when it comes to facing uncertainty or frustration, which means that we suffer less. Patience is related to self-control and a tolerance for frustration, which are undoubtedly essential components to achieve success and enhance personal growth.
Also, when we become more patient, we will have a greater ability to make good decisions because we won’t act from impulsivity and emotionality.
Finally, being patient helps us with our relationships. By being patient, we learn to endure the inconveniences of life. We also tend to be kinder and more understanding with those around us.
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The benefits of being patient
There’s a variety of scientific evidence that supports the wonderful benefits of being patient. Some of these include the following.
Being patient leads to less susceptibility to addiction
Evidence has shown that patient children and adolescents have a lower risk of smoking and drug use.
This was demonstrated in a study by The American Economy Review, which found that impatient children and adolescents have a higher propensity to spend money on alcohol and cigarettes, a higher body mass index (BMI), are less likely to save money, and have worse behavior in school.
It can lead to fewer episodes of depression
Meanwhile, a study published by The Journal of Positive Psychology showed that people who are patient tend to have fewer depressive episodes and tend to experience more positive emotions. This may be because they know how to handle stressful or upsetting situations.
Being patient can lead to greater success when working in a team
Patience also helps us to work in a team. In fact, this was suggested by research published in the American Psychological Association. According to the study, people who are more patient tend to coordinate better with their team and reap greater rewards.
It can lead to greater precision when acting
Another benefit of being patient is the tendency to know, with greater precision, when and how to act. With patience, we can better think beyond what we feel, which allows us to evaluate the situation rationally and objectively.
Being patient can decrease stress and anxiety levels
Impatient people tend to get irritated and stressed more easily. This is because they can’t tolerate frustration and cope adequately with life’s difficulties.
Tips for being patient
Now that you know the benefits and importance of being patient, there’s no doubt that patience is a skill that we should all encourage. If you want to know how to become a more patient person, we’ll tell you some tips below.
1. Learn to recognize impatience in yourself
The first thing we must do is to know how to identify when we’re getting impatient. This is not as easy as it sounds, however, because we tend to blame others.
To recognize impatience in yourself, ask yourself, “Do I expect others to meet my needs, do I expect others to cope with my demands, or are my expectations unrealistic?” If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing an episode of impatience.
If so, identify how impatience manifests in your mind and body. Then, ask yourself what you can do to transform that impatience into patience.
2. Focus on the good things
One way to let go of impatience is to focus on the good. In this case, you can listen to your favorite song while you wait for something, look for something in your environment that catches your attention, or notice and observe the appearance of the things around you.
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3. Differentiate what depends on you and what doesn’t
Another way to develop patience is by understanding and accepting that we’re not in control of everything that happens in life. Therefore, you need to focus on what you can change and improve, and learn to let go of the rest.
4. Learn to live in the present
To be patient, it’s important to stop dwelling on the past or anticipating the future. Instead, it would be best to act in the present reality, focusing on the here and now. A good way to do this is to practice mindfulness.
5. Stop and breathe
When faced with difficult and frustrating events, ideally, you should stop for a minute and take a few deep breaths. This will help regulate your emotions at the moment and help you think more clearly.
We can all be patient
Patience is a much-neglected virtue today, which leads us to live more frustrated, dissatisfied, and unhappy lives. If this article has reaffirmed that being patient is not your thing, don’t wait any longer to develop the quality! It will help you to improve your well-being and personal growth.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Al-Ubaydli O, Jones G, Weel J. Patience, cognitive skill, and coordination in the repeated stag hunt. Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology and Economics [Internet] 2013 [consultado 22 nov 2021]; 6(2): 71–96. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1037/npe0000005.
- Schnitker S. An examination of patience and well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology [Internet] 2012 [consultado 22 nov 2021]; 7(4): 263-280. Disponible en: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17439760.2012.697185.
- Sutter M, Kocher M, Glätzle-Rützler D, Trautmann S. Impatience and Uncertainty: Experimental Decisions Predict Adolescents’ Field Behavior. American Economic Review [Internet] 2013 [consultado 22 nov 2021]; 103(1): 510-531. Disponible en: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.103.1.510.
