Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Got to go.
Kidding, hehe.
Anyway, patience basically means tolerating inconvenience without getting snippy. Taking the time to listen to others and consider their feelings.
At the core of patience is consideration for others, putting your own needs second. At the core of impatience is selfishness, putting your own needs first.
Let me provide you a few examples.
Imagine that you're standing in line to return a product. The line is moving at a slow pace (even though it's not very long), and it takes you two hours to get to the front of the line, because one customer is taking forever to go through the return procedure, due to poor English skills. On top of this, you have something scheduled in about two and half hours, which will take you ten minutes to reach.
If you're truly patient, you'll be understanding about the situation, wait as long as it takes without getting upset, maybe call and tell others about the potential delay. You'll also show the same courtesy once you reach the desk as you would have had you not had to wait for two hours.
If you're sort of patient, you'll stare at your watch and tap your foot while in line. Then, once you reach the desk, you'll try to rush your return in a slightly agitated voice.
If you're not patient, you'll wait for about an hour, tapping your foot and staring at your watch all the way. You'll offer to pay the people in front of you for their spot in the line, which they'll decline. You'll get frustrated, and decide to return when they're not as busy.
Now, suppose someone who looks up to you comes to you with a problem. You're sort of busy, but what you have to do could wait.
If you're patient, you'll offer to listen to their problem for as long as it takes them, and give them carefully considered advice.
If you're somewhat patient, you'll say, "Make it quick," and try to guess what's going on with them, finishing sentences and asking pointed questions to fill in the blanks in your assumptions. Then, you'll give them the first advice that comes to mind, and hurry back to what you were doing.
If you're not at all patient, you'll just say, "I'm busy. Sorry."
Now, there are several factors that could affect patience, only some of which are internal. Here they are:
1. Disposition. Whether a person is inclined to wait on people, be considerate, or generous with their time.
2. Flexibility. The more important it is to get something done at a particular time, and the greater the negative consequences for failing to do it, the less patient you'll be, regardless of your disposition.
3. Frustration. Temporary frustration can make people less patient than their general disposition would indicate.