The following cards (#13-30) are additional spiritual principles and practices that can be essential in recovery.
Giant panda snail
Patience can be defined as the ability to calmly endure a situation without complaint. It implies three qualities:
- Restraint – Rarely does going berserk ever improve a situation. Before frustration escalates to anger, we need to be able to recognize the mental and physical clues that lead to such a reaction. Impatient thoughts revolve around the words 'I, me, my and mine.' We may notice our muscles tightening, particularly in the jaw, neck, and shoulders, and our heart may begin to race. When these red flags appear, pause, take a few conscious deep breaths and focus on something that doesn’t involve those four words.
- Endurance – Attempting to be patient in trying circumstances is like working out at the gym. The more we practice, the more we develop and strengthen this trait in ourselves.
- Recognition – Do we believe we put up with more irritations than other people? Are we entitled to less aggravation than the rest of the world? These beliefs only create more frustration, not less. We are not unique; everyone has their daily share of obstacles and annoyances. From a long-range viewpoint, how important is this delay or complication? Rather than becoming angry, is there anything constructive we can do?
We are impatient for the future and try to craft it with our own powers, but the future will come as it comes and will not be hurried.
~ Dean Koontz
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