“Even as tiny drops fill the water jug, so the patient ones become filled with good, even though virtue may come slowly.”
—Buddha, The Dhammapada
Life can change in an instant, but change also sneaks in by tiny increments. When life changes suddenly, it has a profound emotional impact. While steady changes can have the same profound effect, it’s easy to underestimate the power of patience.
Buddha urged humanity not to doubt the smallest good act by thinking it cannot bring happiness, but rather to lean into patience. It matters, and makes sense on a global scale. At the same time, it is most difficult to be compassionate with oneself when a mistake is made or when our patience fails.
When I practice patience with myself, I become more patient with others. Is that true for you? What ways can you bring more self-compassion into your life on a daily basis?
—Jessica Lien, Prairiewoods development coordinator