Patience is a term that relates to habits and time.

Having the capability to create habits of being patient is a skill that requires much practice and tolerance. Many people do not desire exercising the patience to wait in long lines, to invest in wise purchases, or to refrain from being hasty when dealing with others. However, patience is a form of endurance that is necessary when facing difficult circumstances.

Fortitude and patience in waiting for answers from a supervisor, a parent or even God can require a person to seek strength from within. A quick-tempered person is not as cooperative as one who practices positive thinking and strives to keep peace, rather than exhibiting a bitter spirit when trials become overwhelming. Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated, “Patience and fortitude conquer all things.”

Throughout history, we have discovered that the wisest of all rulers are those who could be persuaded to make decisions after careful reflection and a patient attitude. Patience generally allows a person to exude a demeanor that portrays love, joy, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Most patient people believe it is vital to follow their heart; to be quiet for a while first. When the time is right, they believe questions should be asked and then the answers will be revealed.

What people must realize is that the most important ingredients for patience are acceptance and faith. As trivial as it might seem, it is wise to look at life realistically and have faith in the direction that you have chosen to explore. The secret to staying patient is finding something productive to do while whole-heartedly waiting for a long line to move or for the door to open for a new job, a new relationship or a new direction to follow.

In today’s society, it is sometimes difficult to be patient, being that we have so many technological advancements readily available to help speed up processes; therefore, we believe we shouldn’t have to wait on anything or anybody. Text messaging and Internet allow people to receive answers to questions in just a matter of seconds simply by the click of a button. Does this make us lazy or simply resourceful? Fortunately, patience is a virtue that can be cultivated and nurtured over time.

Those who know how to manage time effectively can turn a situation that could be considered boring and relentless into a time of rest and relaxation. It isn’t a bad idea to write down whatever feelings you notice are associated with feeling rushed and impatient, so you can figure out how to better handle those occasions and react to them more appropriately in the future. Pinpointing the triggers that often influence you to lose your temper or appear frustrated can also help you to reduce any frequency of anxiety or impatience.

Dr. Sonya Rogers is a certified counselor who lives in Daphne.

Her column regularly appears in The Bulletin.