Shooting the Breeze
There are few virtues we need more, but few virtues are harder to come by than patience. I’ve been there. I’ve flown off the handle. I’ve become impatient. Patience is a real struggle for many of us.
Carl Jung once said,
“Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil.”
As a culture/society we can’t slow down and it is killing us (literally!)
8 practical ways to practice patience and slowing down:
- Eat your food slowly. Chew at least fifteen times before you swallow.
- Stand at the longest checkout lane. For the next month, when you are at the grocery store, look carefully to see which checkout lane is the longest. Get in it and then let one person with a full cart go ahead of you.
- Go through one day without wearing a watch or using the cell phone. You won’t know what time it is and you won’t know who you need to call right away. But it might help you slow down.
- Take a walk.
- Spend some time in the park.
- Watch children play and listen to birds sing.
- Read a book.
- Plant a flower and watch it grow.
This list could go on and on but hopefully you get the idea. We need to learn to slow down and to practice patience.
One of my favourite authors, John Ortberg once said,
“Again and again as we pursue the spiritual life, we must battle hurry. For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.”
I don’t want to just skim my life and I hope that you don’t as well!
How are you battling hurry in your life? What are some more ways to practice patience?
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Well, just going by your list I must be a REALLY patient person! I am a hopeless people watcher so I don’t mind standing in long lines, or for that matter even getting stuck in airports (as long as I have a good book). I have NO problem keeping my phone off and I’m an avid reader and regularly take my dog on walks in the nearby park … wasn’t always this way though. It’s called the magic of leaving corporate America behind
marquita herald recently posted..To Stop Procrastinating Identify Root Causes
That’s awesome Marty! Keep it up!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Spiritual growth is not automatic – it is intentional
Love the quotes, they are so true.
For a while I really struggled with this, but my son has brought perspective into my life. Babies grow up so fast. I don’t want to be so busy and in a hurry that I miss it.
TC Avey recently posted..Modern Day Bonhoeffer: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Children definitely help us to have a proper perspective!
Slowing down to enjoy the moments is so critical in the long run.
Thanks for sharing!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Love is a commitment
I THINK patience in a spiritual life isn’t as tough as it used to be. Maybe that’s b/c my kids and g-kids don’t live in my house and my “responsibility” level has reduced. It’s NOT quite so easy when I see how we, as Body members, should be “doing more, going faster, reaching further”… you get the idea. Would love to be perfect soon…
Joanne Norton recently posted..THE LORD IS MY ROCK
It definitely hard at times to balance being and doing.
Thanks for sharing Joanne!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..What are your core values?
Wonderful, practical advice, Kevin. It’s especially nice for those who would try to say, “I just don’t know what to do to become more patient.” I believe you’re right. It can be in a thousand different choices every day. With our new son home, I have a lot of different things I’m doing in addition to work and pastoring. Patience has definitely been a requirement so far, but God has met me in unbelievable ways. Thanks Kevin.
Jason Stasyszen recently posted..Pathetic, Apathetic, Prophetic
Patience is definitely found (or not found) in the choices that we make every day.
Thanks for sharing Jason!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Spiritual growth is proven more by behaviour than by beliefs
Being patient is one of the best way to be a great person. As we have own relationship and foundation as well. Patient is one of the most important role of both parties.
Mika Castro recently posted..Glock Sights
Learning patience will definitely affect our relationships.
Thanks for sharing Mika!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..4 ways to find rest during times of pressure
With this 8 ways, I learned something that I never know how to do it, thanks for sharing this kev’s I appreciate it..godbless..
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..Baby Eagle
The key now is to put these things into practice.
Kevin Martineau recently posted..1 surefire way to get your blog promoted
YEah that’s right and that is the number one rules.. Practice makes you perfect..
Fatima Hipolito recently posted..ערבות הדדית
This is really great! I really admire your point of view.. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us..
Truly words of wisdom but you left out the most impotant way to practice patient which is to prayer when you hou have the feeling of impatience.
Shelby Ryan recently posted..itchy hives
Prayer is definitely critical in practicing patience.
Thanks for sharing Shelby!
Kevin Martineau recently posted..The power of community
Patience is an attitude of an individual that must “Power” in every day living, because a person possesses this kind of attitudes has a huge percent of attaining all the greatness on its life in the field of business, relationship and God.
Thanks for sharing Renz!
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