How can you develop patience through volunteering?

Volunteering has been instrumental in cultivating my patience. Through experiences like community health screenings, I learned to navigate challenges with composure, understanding diverse perspectives, and appreciating the gradual impact of collective efforts.

Absolutely, Interacting with people from different backgrounds and navigating through unforeseen challenges will test your patience, encouraging you to cultivate resilience. Embracing the unpredictable nature of volunteer work becomes a personal growth opportunity, allowing you to adapt and understand varying perspectives. Witnessing the impact of your efforts reinforces the significance of patience in achieving meaningful outcomes. In essence, volunteering serves not only as a chance to make a positive difference but also as a transformative experience that shapes your character by fostering the valuable trait of patience.

Being patient with yourself is key to success. When you enter a volunteer situation, you learn more about yourself as well as others. Give yourself time to plan, evaluate, and listen for feedback. This will help guide you in your journey.

Be patient because as the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day! If not a city was built in a day, let alone one person! Não se cobre muito! Tenha paciência porque como diz ditado Roma não foi construída em um dia! Se nem uma cidade foi construída em um dia que dirá uma pessoa em si!

Remember when you volunteer, you will be able to learn at your own pace and contribute when you can. Just like starting a new job, you will need time to learn a new work culture and the different personalities of the people with whom you volunteer. Most likely you did not sign a contract, so you are under no commitment deadline. You can put in as much or as little time as you can spare. Remember to prioritize yourself and your basic needs and responsibilities first. Also remember, even though you may not accomplish as much as you hoped, your "little achievement" still counts as an achievement.

Be open to learning without expectations. Accept mistakes as opportunities for growth and be kind to yourself when volunteering. When volunteering, you have access to realities completely different from your own. It is essential to suspend judgments and evaluations in order to cultivate patience and empathy. Only with patience and openness can you cooperate.

O voluntariado desenvolve a ética por meio do exercício da paciência. Precisamos fazer trabalho voluntário escutando os desejos dos outros e compreendendo limites. A paciência permite que o trabalho voluntário seja oferecido com compaixão. Sem paciência podemos tornar nossa ajuda um ato compulsório. E esse aprendizado pode ser levado para o ambiente de trabalho nas empresas, onde a paciência nem sempre é exercitada.

The realization that one is working with volunteers, weather paid or unpaid should first create a mindset that one’s team is not composed of full time professional workers, rather it is composed of volunteers from diverse backgrounds, some of whom may not be professionals in any field but because they have passion in whatever volunteering activities one is engaged in, they put in their time, and passion. Thus, cutting the team members some slack, giving them ample time to be trained on daily routine would be a way to show patience while working with them. After all, “one tree cannot make a forest” as it’s popularly said. Patience with others is very key to growth both for the volunteering team members and oneself!

Be sure to introduce yourself to others, especially those who are employees or more experienced volunteers. Communicating with others at your volunteer opportunity will help them gauge better what your skills are. Ask for both instructions and feedback so you can work well from the beginning and improve faster.

Remember that: "After you have learned to be patient with yourself, then you might learn how to be patient with others. When volunteering, you meet individuals with backgrounds, orientations, and ideas that are different from yours. It's important to respect and understand diversity. Not understanding diversity may lead to conflicts, constant disagreement, or hurt. However, with patience, healthy relationships can be built with other volunteers, and an insurmountable team can be formed to achieve goals."

Sometimes things happen that are out of your control, and that of your volunteer organization. You will need to adjust your expectations. Yet each achievement, however small, is still an achievement. Perhaps this is a signal to cross-train and put your effort into another area where there is less pressure from society and the global community.

Before embarking on volunteering for a cause, it's important to remember that changing the world and making a global impact is a long-term commitment. Dedication and patience are essential for staying focused, in ensuring meaningful change takes place but it takes time. The anticipated change will happen when volunteers are patient and committed to the world and the community around them.

As a volunteer with NHS & British red cross, I have managed to build patience and resilience. I have coached fellow volunteers and engaged with people outside volunteering to assist them. This is how I build patience; - Learning to respect diverse backgrounds - Listening attentively to others, lending an ear - Engaging in community work & experiencing different approach to a similar scenario - Using story telling techniques to highlight my point - Not reacting to a changing scenario, instead choosing to experience & engage with positive thought - Experiencing people in need, in pain & in dire need of assistance, helped me become a better version of myself. Volunteering teaches you not only about how to handle pressure but a way of life.

Have you heard of the adage ‘ Patience moves mountains?’ To practice patience involves using your emotions in a calm way. To be accommodating of others needs. The only way to discuss patience is by using an acrostic poem. P stands for Pacing oneself A stands for Adapting to your environment T stands for Take a deep breathe and exhale slowly I stands for Insight E stands for Engage by practicing listening skills N stands for Nice C stands for Collaborate with others by practicing empathy E stands for Experience as volunteers helps you reflect Thank you!