Patience – Why We Need It, and How to Grow It

Impatience can be a surprisingly powerful source of stress, frustration, and conflict—especially when we’re waiting for something to change, dealing with difficult people, caring for someone we love, or simply wishing life would move faster.

In this talk, I explore patience not as passive endurance, but as a combination of strength, insight, and an open heart. In the brain, when we become impatient, stimulation and our sense of responsibility for others can keep us agitated. Using patience in practical ways, we can become steadier without becoming indifferent.

Ultimately, patience gives us more freedom: to do what we can, let go of what we can’t control, and remain present and grounded while life unfolds in its own time.

You’re welcome to join me live each week for these talks — for free — by signing up at https://rickhanson.com/wednesday-meditations-with-dr-rick-hanson/. We always start with a guided meditation to set the tone for the evening. If you’d like to experience the meditation that accompanied this talk, you can listen to it at: https://rickhanson.com/talk-meditation-patience-why-we-need-it-and-how-to-grow-it/

And if you'd like to check out any of my online programs at https://rickhanson.com/online-courses/, you can receive 20% off by using coupon code PW20 during checkout.