Today more then ever before we have so much going on. We have technology which makes much of life easier – email, the internet and mobile phones are some examples.  Also on the rise is high blood pressure, obesity, stress and anxiety.

Thirty years ago when we wanted to contact a friend with a method other than the telephone a letter was written and posted. Then, the friend would reply and send a letter back to us. This correspondence may have taken a few weeks to get a reply. Now, we send an email and get anxious if our friend hasn’t replied in five minutes!  

While we use technology to make things easier, there can be the opposite effect some days. Humans now-days tend to do more in less time, and in a normal 40 hour working week – that actually means doing a lot more. If technology somehow lets us down, what do we do then? If our schedule of priorities is different to someone elses and it is impending our progress, what happens? 

Simply put – our bodies go into stress mode.

I for one don’t want to go back to how it was years ago, but it is important to figure out how to go back to the old stress ways. It seems that we used to be more patient and tolerant. How can we get back there?

Patience & Tolerance

Often, exercising patience is easier said than done. Its quite funny actually; many people I’ve asked about ‘how do you do patience’ tell me that they may look patient on the outside but the are counting slowly down from 10 internally. 

It is useful to have patience and tolerance with people, things, time, ideas and concepts. When we have patience as a resource that is readily available to us, stress becomes something in the past and we can be more efficient, productive and flexible.  How to do it? Here are some simple ideas for you:  

1. Step away for a moment. Its amazing what a little distance and dissociation can do. Even a minute away is useful.
2. Breathe with your mouth open. Sure – it sounds strange, but studies show that when people are starting to lose patience they are often holding their breath and clenching their jaw. Try to clench your jaw with your mouth open!
3. Change how you are sitting or standing. Just changing your body posture (physiology) can change your state. If your slouching, sit up straight; if you are leaning on your elbows, lift them off the table; if your legs are crossed, uncross them. 
4. Roll your eyes. That’s right, roll them! Look all the way to the ceiling without moving your head. Now, to the right then all the way down and then to the left. Do this for about 30-60 seconds.
5. Notice what is going right. This might be that its almost lunchtime, that you returned a call that was on your list or just about anything. Reframing your mind to the positive is very useful.

Not everything will always go your way – but you are in charge of the mood you are in. Patience and tolerance – it can be done!

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