Freedom

While studying the scriptures this morning, I had an insight that I wanted to share from Mosiah 21-22.  This applies to anyone struggling with any sort of trial that they feel is restricting their freedom.  I highly recommend you read these chapters!

 2 And it came to pass that they [the people of Limhi] could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.

{Mosiah 22:2}

Have you ever experienced a trial that you felt bound by?

Have you tried to fight it, only to find that you are too weak to do it on your own?

We can learn from the people of Limhi.   When they faced such a trial, they found that fighting was not the answer.  It only hurt them.  But this verse points out that the only way they could deliver themselves was to "depart into the wilderness."

What could that mean?

To me, it means instead of fighting against my big trials, I am better off departing from them.  Departing does not mean giving into them--it means diverting your energy to somewhere/something good.  Mentally, this could mean diverting my thoughts away from whatever temptation I'm struggling with and losing myself in a good cause (e.g. working on my research, finding someone I can serve, reading something uplifting, exercising, etc.)  Mentally departing into a new and good place.

Anyways, those are my thoughts.  I hope it helps someone out there!  

Peace.

Our powerful roles as women, and men. As God's children.

Though I don't know everything, I know this:  

I am a daughter of God, my Heavenly Father, who loves me, and has great plans for my growth and happiness.  

This speech is pretty long (almost an hour), but it is worth listening to, especially if you have concerns about how Mormon's regard and treat women.  Please, listen with an open heart to the beliefs of Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services and LDS Charities.  I enthusiastically agree with her.  There is more to life than this temporary world!

Link is here

Feel-goods and Feel-bads

Emotions.
They are a peculiar thing.

Whether it's that fluttering you get inside when you think you're falling in love,

The pain of betrayal by someone you trusted,

Or those tender feelings of compassion when you sympathize with another human being,

You notice your emotions.

And sometimes, you struggle with them.

David A. Bednar (shown above) once said:

"In the classroom of mortality, 

we experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness,

sorrow, disappointment, pain,

and even the challenges of physical limitations

in ways that prepare us for eternity.  Simply stated,

there are lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, 
as the scriptures describe,

'according to the flesh.'"

{{Things As They Really Are}}

See also: 1 Nephi 19:6; Alma 7:12-13

My thoughts?
I believe that we all existed as spirit children of our Heavenly Father before we came to earth.
That we did not have bodies before this earth life; and that
a huge part of our reason for coming was to obtain our own bodies.

David A. Bednar said that we experience those feelings in mortality as preparation for eternity.  "According to the flesh" means that ways in which we we experience them are likely unique to our mortal life (where we live in the flesh).

Personally, I think that these emotions we feel--tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain, etc.--at the intensity we feel them now, are new to us.  I think we had emotions before, but our physical bodies enhance them to a level that we've never experienced before.  Maybe part of this earth life is meant to be a learning experience for us on handling emotions.

Look around and you'll see all the different ways that people try to deal with their emotions.  We have developed so many ways to suppress, escape, or communicate them. Some examples and/or consequences include medications, art, food, drug addictions, behavioral addictions, posturing, music, dance, prayer, exercise, etc.
{Let me just put a special plug in for prayer!  God hears you.}

We are learning beings.  Always learning, learning, learning...

I don't mean to imply that emotion is "the answer to everything."  I just mean to say that, I believe, the intense emotions we experience might be entirely new to our souls, and therefore it's normal and expected to be a little unsure about what to do with them.

But let's keep this in mind:
Emotion, by definition, is meant to lead to motion.

So let's put them to good use!
"...bear one another's burdens that they may be light.... mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort..."
Mosiah 18:8-10

beautiful things:
our bodies
emotions
learning and growing from the good and painful
love and service to others

and much, much, more.




peace out.

The Savior wants to forgive

I met this humble and good man at the Utah Valley University Addiction Conference last year.

These words are true.  God is still with you, with His hand stretched out still.

(see Isaiah 5)

Beautiful is the peace that repentance brings. 

No matter how many times you have to do it.

Pain

Wandering into my bedroom--

Alone, weary, frustrated.

I collapse to my knees

And utter a silent plea:

Why these feelings?

With so much to be happy about,

Why do I have painful,

Confused, frustrating feelings?

An image comes to mind

A clear and quiet understanding:

You endure the pain of exercise--

Of resistance training,

Of running--

With pleasure and gratitude,

Knowing it will lead to greater gains in strength.

This is no different.

A Champion

(pronounced "Addict to Athlete")

This is an amazing group of people who, though they've all struggled with addiction, have found a new way of life through taking care of their bodies and becoming physically fit.  

I am starting an internship with them, and have already felt so welcomed by the group members.  They're like a family who supports and encourages each other to do hard things.  They run together, do yoga, walk, play sports, and work together to live positive, active, healthy lives.  There is someone to represent every range of athletic ability, but that's not what's emphasized.  What's emphasized is your attitude and your effort.  

a group of us doing yoga together a few weeks ago.

Though the blog post below is aimed specifically at these Athletes, I think it applies to all of us:

"Coach, am I a Champion?

That question can be music to my ears or can be the prelude to another disappointment. Claiming to want to be a champion is the easy part. Understanding what is actually required to become an AIIA Champion requires more than working out, racing or competing. Sobriety, focus, heart and investment are only the precursors to becoming an AIIA Champion. By creating a more excellent way to live a substance free life one must completely commit to do what is necessary to become a champion.

Wanting to be a Champion, wanting to be the best at everything, whether it is in recovery, treatment, education or in athletics requires the same basic process as sobriety; an understanding of the subject, a knowledge of the limitations, a love for the subject. Becoming a champion requires a strong work ethic and a willingness to sacrifice old habits, friends and relationships in order to achieve success in athletics, healthy living and of course…sustained sobriety.

There are many individuals who have bought into the lie that they can never be a Champion. They tend to stumble upon the notion of being a champion after years of being stuck in life’s deep emotional ruts. The last thing they believe is that overcoming adversity strengthens them from the core-out and that a little self belief can create a fire that has the potential to create the Champion. But there lies the key, the foundation of success;

You see, True CHAMPIONS are made, not born. CHAMPIONS are created through adversity. Yes, bad days, stressful situation, heartaches, emotional pain and losses are all necessary elements in the production of a CHAMPION. Your character is built in the storm life offers. It is not built in success, it is built in adversity. You develop strength when you are in difficult spots yet, the key is learning to handle opposition with courage and integrity and rising when you fall, so you become that CHAMPION.

Characteristics of an AIIA Champion:

• The Athlete discovers how great they can be

• The Athlete talks soft and plays loud

• The Athlete loves the battle more than the victory

• They are not afraid to lose

• The Athlete faces their giants to reach their goals

• They compete with purpose and passion

• The Athlete learns from losses

• They live in the present moment

• The Athlete produces continuous improvement

• The Athlete knows how much they’re worth

So what are you waiting for? I once heard that every story has a hard part in the middle. Take a look at your life, where you currently stand. If you are having difficult times or circumstances seem overwhelming, congratulations this is the middle, not the end. Even greater than that is the undaunted fact that those adversities can be the platform you need to take a stand, rise up, flex the muscles and overcome that which keeps you stuck. Then you, will know, exactly who you are! You Are A……………."

from the AIIA blog

We can all be champions!

And that's what makes us beautiful.

peace out

Don't worry

This scripture hit me in a new way today:

 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can ^adefile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that ^bdefile the man.

Mark 7:15

Usually I see this as saying that food can't stop our spiritual progression, but our words and deeds can.

But today, my view was broadened...

I don't know about you, but I often find myself worrying about the trials I go through.  Sometimes I'm even tempted to think that they make me less of a person.  For example, if I have a negative thought come into my head about someone or something, it's easy to berate myself for having that thought, and/or fearing that I'm a bad person because of it.

[photo from the Mormon.org Facebook page]

But, no.  That's not true--nor is it right.  

Those thoughts are just as much "from without" as any germ or bacteria that could make me medically sick.  No onslaught of temptations, trials, negative thoughts, etc. could ever compromise my spiritual progression, unless I choose them over God...

And the same goes for you.  

No matter what you're going through--financial troubles, loneliness, abuse, negative thoughts, addictions, divorce, doubts, bullying, illness, disability--whatever you're currently struggling with, it cannot destroy you without your permission.  

The things that "come out of" you--your own decisions right now--words, deeds, etc.--those are what have the potential to destroy you.  

But remember, they are also what can allow you to be saved.

The saving itself, that's done by the Savior.

As we choose to let Him, by using His atonement.

It's our choice.

And even as we make mistakes--and do choose to defile ourselves with our choices (which, being human, we inevitably will)--we can always turn back.  We can always elect to return, ready to change, to the Savior.  No matter how far gone and hopeless we think we may be.

And He will cleanse us.  Completely, wholly, infinitely...

beautifully.

[Isaiah 1:18]

Peace

Word of the Day

"anhedonia" 

[an-hee-doh-nee-uh]

the inability to feel pleasure.

interesting, huh?

i found this word in a scientific journal article.  

...it was used to describe rats going through withdrawal from amphetamine.

{if you're interested, here's the reference to the article:}

Barr, A. M., & Phillips, A. G. (1999). Withdrawal following repeated exposure to d-amphetamine decreases responding for a sucrose solution as measured by a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Psychopharmacology (Berlin), 141, 99–106. doi:10.1007/s002130050812

peace out.