We’ve all heard this. It was probably ground into your head as a youngster, especially if you grew up with traditionally-minded parents.
But is it possible that patience has more to offer than just the plain virtue of being patient? As it turns out, the answer is definitely a ‘yes.’
In this post, we’re going to talk about some of the mental and physical health benefits that patience can bring.
Let’s dive into the real, tangible health benefits of being patient.
Patience Leads To Less Depression
According to a study conducted back in 2007, more patient people tend to experience not only less depression, but also fewer negative emotions overall.
Patient people were also said to rate themselves as being more grateful, more mindful, and more connected to not just mankind, but also the universe.
But then again, this isn’t really surprising.
The thing about patience is that it requires us to really stop and think about not only what we’re doing, but also how other people may be feeling.
It’s an action that requires us to think about other people just as much as we think about ourselves.
Patience Also Literally Leads To Better Physical Health
According to a 2007 study by Schnitker and Emmons, patient people were much less likely to report health problems like diarrhea, pneumonia, acne, and headaches. It has also been observed that people who exhibit the characteristics of impatience and irritability tend to have worse sleep and more health complaints overall.
Why?
Well, this isn’t necessarily definitive. But it’s possible that higher levels of patience mean lower levels of stress.
Simply put, patience may help to lower our stress levels. And this, in turn, could have very positive health outcomes.
How To Be More Patient
If you struggle with patience in your own life, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind.
1. Slow Down
Before reacting or getting upset about things, try to slow down and just feel the moment. Often, counting to 10 before reacting to something that’s potentially upsetting will give you enough presence of mind to react with a more patient frame of mind.
2. Try To Remember That Other People Have Feelings
This may seem obvious. But in moments where we may struggle to stay patient with other people, it’s important to understand that we’re not the only humans with feelings involved.
And when you start to consider how other people might be feeling, and try to take a bit of responsibility for how your behavior may impact the world, that makes a big difference. It matters.
3. Remember That Life Isn’t Perfect, And That Sometimes Things Just Don’t Go According To Plan
It isn’t always easy to stay patient when things aren’t going our way.
But it’s important that we keep our minds on the truth; that life is messy and imperfect, and that things aren’t always going to happen in the most efficient way.
Traffic jams, long lines, car breakdowns, and unforeseen problems are going to happen.
The sooner we can let go of our frustration, and learn to just be at peace in the moment, the sooner we can enjoy some of the incredible benefits that patience has to offer.
