Develop Patience by Playing Chess

I think everyone has heard about that road rage incident in Quiapo, Manila involving a cyclist and an army reservist.  It is really a very unfortunate event and I hope that justice is served in accordance with the law.  I hope further that it is the last of such kind.

The incident clearly underscores the need for patience when driving a car or riding a bike.  What transpired there is not caused by notorious traffic but a sudden burst of uncontrolled emotions. It is something that is very regrettable in the end and may have been avoided if the protagonists knew how to control their anger.

It is said that one effective way of controlling anger is simply to take a deep breath and count from one to ten.  One way that I practice is that I imagine the person (I am angry with at that time) as a relative or a loved one. Just imagine if the person who cuts you off on the road or scratches your car is your brother or sister? You may still be angry but the anger is a “controlled anger” and not something that may propel you to take a person’s life. Another way is to try putting your place in the shoe of that person and honestly attempt to understand his actions.  Whatever the situation may be, patience is the key to avoid such dreadful incidents. In fact, patience may save yours or the other person’s life.

With a very inconvenient and "fight-provoking" traffic conditions that we have in Metro Manila, patience is a virtue that commuters, drivers or any other traveler should have. If you are easily agitated or prone to anger, try playing chess. Chess helps develop patience by training players to think first before making a move. Just like in real life it is prudent to think first before saying or doing anything. Making a move without thinking often results in something regrettable later on.

In chess, patience is a necessary virtue. With the “touch move” rule, a player who touched a particular piece is bound to move it! A move once made on the board cannot be taken back without violating this very cardinal rule. If a bad move is made, a good chess player learns to accept the mistake and continue to play the game without being annoyed. 

In life and in chess, lack of patience leads to blunders or a bad move that may end in checkmate.