Patience Takes Practice
Whenever I tell people what I do for a living, they often say, "You must have a lot of patience." And while that statement has some truth, here's something not everyone knows: patience is a skill. Like any other skill, it takes practice and can develop over time.
As a behavior analyst, I practice patience every day in my job. I work with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder and other diagnoses like ADHD. Children who are neurodivergent often find it challenging to regulate their emotions, which can make it difficult for them to handle transitions and activities that are outside their daily routines. The change in routine often leads to situations where patience is essential to helping the child regulate.
Patience is a Skill
“Like any other skill, it takes practice and can develop over time.”
How Can I Become More Patient?
Developing patience is something anyone can achieve, similar to any other skill. Although it may come naturally for some, it can improve through practice. The first step to developing patience is to recognize and acknowledge the feeling associated with impatience. The next step is to take note of your actions when you feel impatient. Once you can identify these two things, you can consciously practice patience when it is lacking. These situations could include teaching or supporting your child's independence or even when someone unfairly cuts in line in front of you.
What Steps Can I Take to Become More Patient?
“The first step to developing patience is to recognize and acknowledge the feeling associated with impatience. The next step is to take note of your actions when you feel impatient.”
How Can I Develop More Patience With Myself?
Making changes in one's life can be challenging, and it's natural to feel discomfort and frustration, especially when things don't go as planned initially. However, this is perfectly normal, which means more practice is required. When you practice patience, it will also assist in developing self-compassion and understanding. It's essential to acknowledge that frustration is a part of the behavior change process, and it's okay to feel that way.
You have taken a step toward behavior change by simply reading this article. Developing your patience may help you move towards more fulfillment in your life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches us that the goal is not to feel better but to feel better. Identifying and managing your emotions provides new tools to make conscious choices about your actions based on your values.
Learning is a challenging process, both in the present and the future. Recognizing that it takes patience to learn will help you acquire more knowledge. The real question is: Are you willing to be patient with failure to achieve the desired change?
Learning Takes Patience
“Recognizing that it takes patience to learn will help you acquire more knowledge.”
How Behavior Coaching Can Help
Understanding the functions of our behavior is essential for personal growth, and behavior coaching can help with that. It enables you to identify the areas where you feel most impatient and how that feeling affects your actions. At New Habits Consulting, we offer behavior coaching to help you become the best version of yourself. If you're interested in learning more, please don't hesitate to contact us.