Day 36- Practice Being Patient

As my mom would say, "I'll be John Brown." DSTSS was about patience on Day 31 and then I revisited it on Day 33. On Day 31 I was critical of Carlson telling me to be patient without guiding me on how to do that. Well, shut my mouth. Today's chapter from his book -the next one I might add- is how to practice being patient. He did give me some tips after all!!! Had I only been patient...

Carlson says that to practice being patient, you have to pick a small amount of time and say, I am going to be patient for the next five minutes. (Recall: Baby Steps) He said once you put your focus on doing that for five minutes, when things come up you are conscious enough to tell yourself to calm down. The theory is that you can do this for 5 minutes, then 10, then eventually you have taught yourself to take a chill pill. I don't know why I didn't put this idea together on my own.

Carlson asserts that if you are patient, it tends to be contagious with those around you. I relate this to having a heated discussion with my husband: if we both keep our voices calm and do not escalate to yelling, the whole conversation can be played out without someone storming off. So by that same sentiment, if I stay patient with my husband, coworkers, kids, and friends they will learn to be patient with me.

I'm taking that lesson today and running with it. Five minutes. Go.

--God, Thank you for this "trick" that I can use. I pray that it helps me to become more patient in general. Please be with those around me who tolerate me when I am not patient. Amen.