How much ‘patience’ do you employ before you hit your breaking point?

I think that most of us mistakingly allow others to take advantage of us under the guise of patience. Over the years I have repeatedly asked or begged for patience, wanting to feel calm and compassionate in the presence of abuse. I asked for patience with people who lie to themselves and the world, when I was delayed because of another’s choices, and when a friend began to push my boundaries, and then to shove against them.
I believed that I needed to be more patient in these situations, but patience was not the answer. The answer was courage. I needed courage to choose a response that would influence the dynamics that had become increasingly unbalanced.

I have listened to teachers preach the power of patience. “Be patient, what you have been asking for will come to you”. I believe that this works to the degree in which we can allow, and then it is up to us to meet the...