Have you noticed at the supermarket when you scan your groceries through the automatic checkout that an electronic voice keeps prompting you to move on after you’ve paid?
You may be blind, disabled, older and slow, but the automatic checkout has no manners, doesn’t care about your wellbeing, and just wants the next customer to run their credit card through the till to take more money.
Technology and industrialisation have made our lives go faster and faster. We get herded from pillar to post with little respect for our individuality at times.
It can make you feel like a number, rather than a person. This can lead to anxiety, depression and low self-worth. The more it happens, the more it can make you feel unhappy and stressed.
Technology has also resulted in ever increasing isolation, where we’re ‘connected’ electronically but can go for days without having contact with real person who expresses interest in our well-being.
“How are you today Robert? Nice to see you. Is your family well? How’s that garden of yours growing?”
Instead, our communications frequently consist of a machine saying:
“Please take your items. Next customer please.”
We’ve started to reduce the level of verbal contact and socialisation we have with people, which can increase our isolation. Passing the time of day with folks in idol chit-chat is human nature. It’s food for the soul, not only for the recipient but also for the person taking an interest in others.
Human contact with others and patience with them improves your physical and mental health.
It’s as important as food, water and shelter.
Patience with yourself is self-care and the difference between seeing yourself as successful and moving towards your goals, or a failure for not having reached them yet.
Impatience leads to frustration, anger, dissatisfaction, anxiety, a troubled mind and physical and mental ill health.
You can only have a peaceful mind when you choose to practise patience because it’s the acceptance of the natural flow of life. It’s you taking control of being the creator of your life, not just reacting to it.
“A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
– Buddha
So, make patience one of your virtues.
Your daily virtues.
Make space in your life to be patient with yourself and others and see how much peaceful your mind becomes.
Feel how much more at one with life you become and how much more pleasant your days are.
You have the power.
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