You’ve likely heard the quote, “patience is a virtue.” Well, in our world of instant gratification – where you can click on a button to get almost anything delivered to your door – it’s likely lost much of its meaning. You might even go so far to say that smartphones and social media have made many of us even less patient in our daily lives.
What is patience anyway? Some define it as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.” For those in recovery, patience may mean the capacity to stick with the process. After all, sobriety is a lifelong journey that requires time – to fully heal the mind, body and spirit, as well as any relationship damage caused by active addiction.
We all need to slow ourselves down sometimes and make an effort to be more patient. Start with these steps:
Make patience a habit: Becoming a patient person takes practice, so there’s nothing wrong with taking a few minutes each day to intentionally make yourself wait. Some ideas: Count to 20 before responding to a text message or intentionally hold out before having that second cup of coffee.
Remember to breathe. This may seem too simple, but breathing really works wonders when it comes to quelling the stress and anxiety caused by impatience. The next time you’re losing your patience, give it a try: Inhale slowly and count to 10. Now exhale and repeat this three times. You’ll be surprised how much it helps.
Enjoy the process: While it’s normal to want to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, it’s also important to embrace the time it takes to get there. Try to enjoy the lessons, friendships and different emotions the recovery process has caused you to feel.
Remember: All good things take time. If you expect things to happen instantly, you’re more likely to get impatient. In the words of author Susan Gale: “The longer you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives. The harder you have to fight for something, the more priceless it will become once you achieve it. And the more pain you have to endure on your journey, the sweeter the arrival at your destination. All good things are worth waiting for and worth fighting for”.
Don't Wait to Get Addiction Help
Our treatment model prepares young adults with the skills needed to succeed in sobriety and in life after rehab. To learn more about how you can start on your journey toward sobriety, call us today: 866-930-4673.
