The digital age has taught people to live in a hurry. You are probably in a constant rush trying to keep up with everyone’s hurried life. If so, this can be taking a toll on your patience. When you are always trying to get somewhere, or complete a to-do list, very rarely are you living in the present. In most cases this makes having patience difficult, because you are just trying to get done. Many people loose sight over the fact that as a parent or any kind of role model, utilizing patience can be a strong leadership tool.

Begin your journey to greater tolerance by letting go of the little things. This does not mean you have to immerse yourself in chaos, but pick your battles carefully. Is it really worth arguing with your child which plate they eat in, or which shirt they wear? Let go of the small things, or else you will constantly find yourself in a roasting pan of emotion!

Most people have some sort of patience threshold; it becomes a little trickier when you are trying to increase this level. However, as a person in a leading role, such as parenthood, it is important to know what stage of development your child is in. This can help you figure out what’s normal behavior and what’s not. This is vital information when you are trying to pick your battles.

Learning to climb the twin loft bed may be an accomplishment for your child. If they have learned to climb it only to throw the bedding off, this can be a problem. Recognize the difference between celebrating an accomplishment and setting boundaries.

Have you breathed lately? This may sound like a silly question because you may think to yourself that you breathe all the time. While it may be true that you are always breathing, how much of this breathing is intentional? When you take deep breaths, it will make you aware of how patient you really can be. Breathing deeply will put you in control of emotions, which will give you more control over them.

Try not to take things too personally. This is especially true as a parent. When the kids are bickering around the black dining room set, this argument isn’t an intentional attack against you. When you realize this, it will help you become more patient.

Keep stressful situations in a long-term perspective. Are you getting upset and losing your patience over something you will not even remember once the day is over? When you put a situation in this context, you will probably realize how silly it is and it is not worth getting upset about in the first place.