A virtue to practise

Patience

Patience is waiting calmly and staying kind when things are slow, hard or frustrating.

What patience means

Everyone has to wait: in queues, for their turn, for things to grow, or for people who are still learning. Patience is about how you wait. It means not snapping, sighing or giving up, and remembering that good things often take time.

How to practise patience

1. When you feel yourself getting cross, take three slow breaths before you speak.
2. Let someone finish talking before you jump in.
3. Wait your turn in a line without complaining.
4. Keep going with something you are learning, even when it feels slow.

Want a new virtue to practise each morning? Start with Virtue of the Day.