The Gift of Patience

Patience can be one of the most difficult virtues to achieve. Especially during this pandemic, it may seem we have lived in a state of patience – although there may have been many times when we were anything but patient! We are limited in where we can go, who we can visit, and what we can do. We are waiting for the availability of vaccines, a major step in controlling the virus. Some of us may feel discouraged or angry. Others may be “going with the flow,” coping relatively well with the many ramifications of the pandemic.

The amount and strength of one’s patience can make a large difference in our lives. While patience is always a trait that we would like to have, the importance of it seems vitally important at the present time. Some people may view patience as a personality trait, like being quiet or talkative. However, another way to define patience is being a spiritual virtue. Let us explore the spirituality within patience.

Patience — spiritual virtue

All of us know that earthly life is both joyous – and a struggle. The purpose of our lives is to learn soul lessons, and these are often learned through challenging situations. If your soul needs to learn self-love, you may have been born to parents who do not voice unconditional love towards you. Through healing, you eventually learn self-love comes from within, not dependent on other people in your life. If your soul needs to learn empathy towards others, your heart will be given opportunities to recognize and feel the pain of other people. The Divine Source always gives us the right situations to learn these lessons and to encourage our soul growth.

Patience also guides us in how to react when we are faced with struggles. We have many choices, as we can become angry, sad, discouraged or just give up. While these emotions are real, it is what we do next that makes the difference. If we allow these negative feelings to stew within ourselves for long periods of time, we are creating a storm of inner destruction. However, we can acknowledge the emotion and then release it. We can create a new perspective that will manifest in new emotions. That is where Reiki comes in.

Reiki is the perfect way to bring patience into our lives. It focuses on calmness and peace which is the underlying emotion of patience. Patience is one way to focus on the present moment and not worry about the future. There is an element of trust built into patience. We trust that all is well. We trust everything, including this worldwide pandemic, is happening for a reason.

When we study Dr. Usui’s five Reiki principles, we can see the virtue of patience exists throughout each one of them. Please read the following slowly and let each phrase settle into your heart energy:

“Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
Just for today, I will be grateful.
Just for today, I will do my work honestly.
Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.”

We are embracing the reality of our present circumstances, rather than wishing them away. We are integrating the gifts of daily life, including the joys and the sorrows. We are strengthening the gift of patience within our souls. Our understanding expands and our spirituality deepens. Reiki accelerates this growth each time we connect to its healing energies. Reiki is a blessing.

Article by Deborah Lloyd, Reiki Master

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Deborah Lloyd is a Usui and Karuna Reiki® Master and certified holistic therapy practitioner, providing Distant Reiki sessions and training in Asheville, NC. Deborah is the author of two books, 22 Messages from the Archangels; and, Believe and it is True: A Story of Healing and Life Lessons. She is also one of the co-authors of Reiki 101: 101 Answers for Your Reiki Questions. Reach Deborah at [email protected] and on Facebook at Deb Lloyd Healing.