DeborahBurkeHenderson.com

DECEMBER 2025 – PATIENCE

Where in your life would you like to offer more patience? More understanding? It is so easy to fall into impatience, isn’t it? But think about this: every day we are given opportunities to transform difficult moments into moments allowing for patience and calmness.

The more intentional we are about this … the more we practice what can be a transformative experience … the better we get at it. Embracing any behavior takes time and repetition to become habit.

American author and speaker, Joyce Meyer said, “Patience is not simply the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while we are waiting.”

The next time you experience impatience, look at how it presents itself in your mind and body. Is your mind agitated? Is your body tense? The more we become aware of our feelings, the better we can learn to respond to ourselves and to others with lovingkindness, gentleness, and understanding.

Edward George Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873), an English writer and politician said, “Patience is not passive. On the contrary, it is active. Patience is concentrated strength.”

Step back from the moment. Take in a few deep breaths, stretching up on the inhale and letting your shoulders relax downward with each exhale. Arriving and settling. Centering yourself in this way will help you let go of tension and find stillness. Try bringing a slight smile to your face.

Challenging times give us a chance to soften difficult situations and provide us with opportunities for growth. If you slip up, just try again the next time that feeling of impatience comes over you, and it probably will. Don’t give up; just keep working at this. Once we see our irritation and resistance soften, a sense of peace will ensue.

Set an intention to bring this quality of patience with you into each day. This inner work is all about retraining the mind and the nervous system. Life can be trying. When you can take control of your feelings and soften the rough edges, you will be rewarded. Having greater patience when dealing with your troubles will be life changing and that’s a promise.

Blessings to you and yours on this journey,

Deborah

     ________________________

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they are easy.”

—Saadi Shirazi, Persian poet

My morning mantra:

"I arise this morning with a smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. 

I vow to live fully in each moment and to greet every being I meet with compassion."

        ~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, peace activist 

                                                                                    [1926 - 2022]