Observing your thoughts, feelings & sensations is the grist of the practice.
So what is a good meditator? The one who meditates.
The more we genuinely care about others the greater our own happiness & inner peace.
Patience is both the tool for and the result of, our efforts.
While meditating we are simply seeing what the mind has been doing all along.
There is no illness that is not exacerbated by stress.