How to Practice Patience

You’ve probably heard the adage “patience is a virtue” more than once in your lifetime. But like most clichés, there is some truth in it. Every person who wants to live a meaningful life needs to learn how to practice patience.

Our modern culture puts heavy emphasis on instant gratification, but this can be very harmful. Learning how to practice patience is especially beneficial for people recovering from substance abuse since it will take time before they can revert back to their life before addiction.

What Is Patience?

Patience means persevering and being tolerant. It can also be described as the ability to bear challenges calmly without any complaints. People who are impatient tend to act rashly and have unrealistic expectations.

Patience offers many benefits. When someone has this quality, it means they are willing to put in energy and work for future rewards. This way, they can enjoy more satisfaction since the prize did not come easy.

Try these tips below to improve and practice your patience.

1. Take slow breaths

While this tip may sound like an overused gimmick, it can truly help. Try to pause for a minute and take deep breaths when you feel like you can’t control yourself. The impatience inside you will slowly dissipate. Whether you are dealing with stress, inhaling, and exhaling slowly can calm your digestion, immune system, and brain. Bringing awareness to the flow of your breath can also relax you and give you energy.

2. Think big

It’s tempting to get wrapped up in the heat of the moment. When you have to walk by your old bar, your mind probably goes straight to ordering your favorite drink. When this happens, think about the big picture. Is it really impossible to say no to a drink? You can still have fun without doing anything destructive, and in time, you’ll find yourself not worked up about your triggers anymore.

If you’re struggling with addiction triggers, call 833.627.0039 to participate in alcohol rehab programs in Ohio.

3. Keep a journal

Managing emotions is an important aspect of the journey to achieving patience. When you are dealing with addiction, it is recommended to keep a journal because writing down negative emotions will help you deal with them. Force yourself to think before you act so you won’t make decisions you will regret. Journaling also offers benefits such as tracking your cravings and moods and understanding your triggers. Discuss journaling with your therapist and how to use it alongside dialectical behavior therapy sessions.

4. Learn to wait

This is one of the best ways to practice patience. When you do this, assume that things will take longer than what you expect. However, be willing to make changes and be flexible, depending on your current needs. You can also practice patience through hobbies such as gardening, fishing, baking, or taking on art projects.

5. Be realistic

If you think that sobriety is an easy path, you will be extremely disappointed. Addiction recovery is a long and arduous process, and no one gets better right away. Most people who go through recovery with this mindset will end up relapsing due to decreased motivation. However, this does not mean sobriety cannot be achieved. It simply implies that you need to be realistic about the struggles you will face. Think about your goals and take them one small step at a time.

When you set realistic goals, you can enjoy increased confidence. Remember that goal-setting is a continuous process, and you can be flexible with it since priorities change. It also helps to recognize that you will have bad days, so it’s up to you to find a healthy outlet for your negative emotions. This may include:

Venting to your friend
Deep breathing
Watching a movie
Exercising

Patience Is Key

From day one, you need to be equipped with the skills you need to succeed in your journey to sobriety. Our experts Midwest Recovery Center understands this. We offer a wide array of therapies that can help you learn how to practice patience. When you know it’s time to overcome your addiction, contact Midwest Recovery Center at 833.627.0039.

We Stand for Equality - A message from CEO Mark Gold

Amatus stands in solidarity with all of the people across the globe mourning the death of George Floyd and countless others who lost their lives unnecessarily. We are outraged and heartbroken. We support those fighting to combat hate, discrimination, and unfair treatment of our fellow humans. We stand with our staff, our clients, and all those who live in legitimate fear that they and their loved ones may be targeted based on race. We empathize with the anxiety, fatigue, and frustration of the African American community. We acknowledge that these lives matter.

Racism infiltrates every aspect of our lives. We would be remiss not to mention how it impacts the addiction community. Spurred on by The War on Drugs, African Americans and other people of color are often incarcerated for similar practices for which the white population receives treatment.

Nearly 80% of people in federal prison for drug crimes are black and brown people. This is why Amatus supports Drug Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.), a program that connects people willing to enter addiction treatment to resources and help to minimize jail time.

We know that dealing with systemic racism, fear of violence, and discrimination is traumatic. We are committed to supporting people in our communities in need of compassion and trauma-informed care. As an ongoing commitment, we will continue to develop meaningful ways to use our voice and resources to support reforming the drug policies that so negatively impact African American communities. In addition, we have set up a Social Justice Scholarship Fund, as a way to provide treatment for individuals who are facing jail time for drug-related offenses.

As a company, Amatus embraces diversity and wholeheartedly believes in the power of inclusion. We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers. We may never be perfect, but we resolve to work to make Amatus the best version of itself. We are dedicated to leading peaceful and positive change in our workplace and across the communities we serve. We have the responsibility to create a culture where there is no place for hate and discrimination.

We take a knee with those who fight oppression and who demand to make our country a more perfect union.

To a brighter future, upward and onward.

Amatus Health

What Is Patience?