There is also patience of speech. If others incite us with negative comments, this patience keeps us from immediate retaliation. Instead, we sift through our vocabulary and choose words appropriately, reciprocating with nonaggressive language: “I’ll have to contemplate what you just said.” Patience of speech also means working with our habitual tendencies, such as excessive flattery or complaint. When you feel you must say something, try listening a bit longer instead. The more patient you are, the less you’ll give in to these patterns.
