Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. For a Type-A overachiever like me, patience doesn’t come without a lot of deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and instrumental new-age music. I have to actively remind myself to practice patience. When I feel myself getting impatient, I first ask myself, Is this situation within my control? If the answer is yes, then I actively try to change the situation, so it is less stressful for me.
If the answer is no, and I can’t seem to let the stress go, I move on to a breathing meditation like the following Breath of Patience.
Settle into a comfortable seated position and close your eyes. Rest your hands gently on the tops of your thighs.
Take a deep breath in through your nose. Imagine the breath reaches all the way to the base of your spine. Let your belly expand with breath.
Breathe out through your nose.
Take another deep breath. Again, let it reach all the way to the base of your spine. This time, though, imagine once it hits the base of your spine, it bounces up a little bit and reaches the point between your pelvis and your belly button.
Breathe out through your nose.
Take another deep breath. This time the breath hits the bottom and bounces up above your belly button.
Breathe out through your nose.
Take a final deep breath. Imagine it hits the base of your spine and bounces all the way up to your heart. Now your entire torso is filled with that rejuvenating breath.
Breathe out through your nose.
Open your eyes and come back to the world renewed.
This breathing meditation has two big benefits. First, the effort it takes to visualize your breath this way will force you to focus on the moment. Second, deep breathing is proven to reduce stress. Increasing focus and reducing stress are keys to improving patience.
Patience. Weekly Reflection Summary.
Sunday. Love. Love is patient is the first characteristic of God’s definition of love.
Monday. Divine Providence. Patience is necessary because it requires us to control our emotions and passions.
Tuesday. Gift of Discomfort. God always wants good but good doesn’t always mean easy.
Wednesday. Awake Not Anaesthetized. Awakening, or waking up to the fact of how unlike Christ I am.
Thursday. Peace of Heart. We all need a little patience.
Friday. An Important Virtue. “By your patience you will save your souls.”
Smitten With Goodness 