In a world of instant gratification, I have learned that developing patience can be short-lived and cause you to throw self-discipline out the window. And, yes, sadly, those two ways of being go hand in hand, regardless of the perspective you may hold.

Many people are more likely to give up or suppress an emotion than make an effort to develop what it takes to get the results they want. But as we allow the discomfort of new, healthier change, and observe our judgments toward the discomfort, we can consciously cultivate patience over time from days into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. This process permits us to resume our growth as healthy human beings no matter what cards we were dealt in our past and without fear of the future. There is trust in the process as we trust in who we are becoming.

I have had plenty of life experiences when I felt like something was not working because of my own self-doubt and weaknesses. It was necessary for me to build the muscle of self-discipline. The deeper I went into self-discipline, the more I became aware of the importance of being patient with myself. I came to accept and recognize my internal dialogue; this was key to healing negative thoughts and reactions.

Whether we decide to take action or not, things will still change. Unfortunately, in most cases, we have good intentions; we want something better, but because it doesn’t happen in the now, we suppress or ignore those needs, only to become something we are not, and the spiral of self-deprivation begins. Your journey of self-exploration begins here.

My top five benefits of cultivating patience and self-discipline:

It will assist you to have a better focus on long-term outcomes and goals, rather than short-term fixes that can leave you in a repetitive state of disappointment and hopelessness.
Supports you to make better choices in life instead of being in a state of impulse, which is an animal instinct of fight or flight.
It can assist you in managing your stress, anxiety and overwhelm, as you will have the patience to put things into perspective and know that you are building toward it by not being in a constant state of urgency.
Cultivating patience encourages healthier behaviors toward ourselves. Over time, this will improve self-confidence, self-worth and self-value. Patience grants the opportunity to be more compassionate, loving, kind and forgiving toward ourselves and others. In return, this will empower you to have and maintain better relationships.
Cultivating patience requires self-discipline. Self-discipline can lead to improvement and success in all life endeavors. It gives you the power and the inner strength to overcome addictions, procrastination and will leave you feeling good about who you are and who you are becoming.

Dipika Patel is a certified holistic health coach and lifestyle practitioner who empowers her professional clients to activate an overall balanced lifestyle of mind, body and soul. She can be reached at (760) 821.3119 or www.LoveYourLifeHealthy.com.