Tag: practice

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Practicing Giving To Others

Grayscale photography of homeless man sitting on bench next to luggage and cardboard sign

We Are Selfish Creatures

Giving to others is not a natural process that we are born with. From the moment that we take our first breath, we reek of selfishness and want to absorb as much attention as we possibly can. This selfishness continues throughout our lives and never stops. It just differs in severity from person to person. That’s why we need to practice how to give to others.

Giving to others is a difficult process for many people because it feels unnatural. Whenever a thought crosses your mind about giving something to someone, you become bombarded with question marks about that particular individual: “Do they deserve it? Will they even like it? What am I getting out of this?”

Forget about giving to others during Christmas or other holidays; most people do it because they’ve been programed by society to give during these events. They also know that they’ll probably get something back in return. But the act of true giving is on a random day of the year when the other person does not expect it. Anyone can easily buy someone a present for Christmas, but not anyone can wake up on a random day and perform an act of kindness!

Remember that giving is not always about materialism. Actions are actually much more valuable and stick longer in a person’s memory bank than objects. Actions are also harder to perform than buying someone a present. Actions determine your character and if your character does not line up with your intended actions, then nothing gets done.

That’s why we have to practice giving to others. Even saying something nice to your coworker or friend on a random day is an act of giving. Answering your poor aunt’s phone call after she has tried reaching you for over 2 months is an act of giving. Talking to the cashier at your local supermarket and asking how they’re doing today is an act of giving.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing that giving is always about materialism. No matter how expensive an object is, in the end, it’s much cheaper compared to actions and words. Materialism promotes superficial relationships, but your heart draws in authentic connections.

We don’t have to hide it from ourselves anymore: we are selfish creatures by design! But we can change that if we ask God for guidance. God sacrificed his own Son Jesus Christ on the cross to die for our sins, so that we can be saved on judgment day. Through God, we can learn anything and become better human beings. We just have to be willing.

Practice letting go of your selfishness and start giving more to others.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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Having Patience With Others

Asian woman sitting in front of a laptop and being patient with another woman

Practicing The Act Of Patience

Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset. There are many times in life when you cannot control yourself and make a mistake or get into an argument; this is because patience needs to be practiced.

The more that you practice the act of patience, the easier it will become to tolerate uncomfortable situations. Being able to withhold yourself in a situation that is being prolonged by another person requires maturity and strength. Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we must allow another person to set the flow and pace of the interaction.

If not an emergency, it is better to match the other person’s flow and work on your patience. Cutting an interaction short may come off as rude, disrespectful or disinterested. This can affect your reputation and your character. Rather, learn how to develop patience by listening to the other person and understanding what they are trying to communicate.

Anytime that you find yourself in a situation where you feel bored, inpatient or dissatisfied, remind yourself to practice the act of patience. There are many benefits which you can reap:

  • Patience improves coping with upsetting and stressful situations
  • Patience improves listening skills and empathy
  • Patience may help you become a better friend, neighbor and coworker
  • Patience increases your strength and stamina and helps you achieve your goals
  • Patience helps you more effectively tolerate irritability

Remind yourself that you are not the center of every interaction, regardless if you work a nine to five job or are a famous celebrity in Hollywood. We are all human beings who deserve respect, honesty and care. Therefore, be patient with yourself and others and provide an environment which fosters love and happiness.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)

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