I did something I have not done for a while. I read a book! Besides Preach My Gospel, Come Follow Me and the scriptures, I have not ventured far in my gospel study these past six months, but I enjoyed this book by Elder Ucthdorf and felt uplifted. Not only is he an optimistic person, but he teaches hope and optimism in a great way. 

Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future—even “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23). It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance (pg. 18).

We hope in Jesus Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. Because God has been faithful and kept His promises in the past, we can hope with confidence that God will keep His promises to us in the present and in the future. In times of distress, we can hold tightly to the hope that things will work together for our good (pgs. 19, 20).

The reason these words rang true with me is that I have seen evidence of God being faithful and keeping His promises in my life. Over and over again, I lean on God and ask for His support and I am delivered. I trust that He will keep His promises in the present and future too. I know my prayers are heard, and that God showers us with blessings as seek to draw near to Him.

Ghandi is recognized as one of history’s greatest spiritual and political leaders. Born in 1869 in India, Gandhi earned the title “father of the nation” in India for pioneering mass nonviolent civil disobedience, a tactic used to resist tyranny. He was imprisoned multiple times for his activism through noncooperation. Gandhi is credited with easing poverty, promoting religious harmony, expanding women’s rights and his role in freeing India from British domination. Here are a few quotes from Ghandi:

A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.

There are two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow.

If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.

In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all.

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it — always.

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

(https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2022/12/26/23501773/gandhi-best-quotes-mahatma)

I found this article to be excellent:

"Developing Emotional Resilience throughout the Race of Life"

 by Tom Golightly

Here are excerpts:

What is emotional resilience? While other definitions exist, emotional resilience is defined within a gospel perspective as the ability to adapt to emotional challenges with courage and faith centered in Jesus Christ. It’s being able to work through adverse conditions, bounce back from stressful situations, and maintain our motivation.

This skill requires cultivating an internal sense of competence and belief while at the same time learning how to lean on others and their wisdom. It also involves fostering optimism, a healthy sense of control over our lives, emotional awareness and tolerance, and flexibility in problem-solving.There are things we can do before, during, and after experiencing life’s challenges that can help us build emotional resilience.

Before 

The first thing is to accept that there will be challenges in life. We we often try to live our lives avoiding certain struggles, but some challenges are inevitable. Accepting that doesn’t mean that we’re seeking trials—it just means that we’re acknowledging that difficult times, through no choice of our own, will happen. Another thing we can do is to become aware of and adapt to the emotional ups and downs of everyday life.

During

As we experience different situations that require resilience, it’s best to focus on the things we can control. Much of the emotional duress we experience from difficult situations stems from being worried about outcomes or problems that are out of our control. Another way to develop resilience is to learn to observe our feelings without judging ourselves for them. A third thing to do in times of trouble is to build a sense of interdependence—understanding how and when to lean on others.

After

As we move on from struggles, we need to practice giving ourselves the same compassion that we extend to others. Self-compassion involves practicing self-kindness, forgiveness, and mindfulness and receiving emotional support. As we work on having mindful moments, we open ourselves up to being more grateful for the variety of experiences we have had.

Like long-distance runners, we can condition ourselves to move forward with courage and faith during trying times. And in doing so, the Lord will help us learn and grow and He will bless us with joy and peace, no matter what trials may come our way.

(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2022/01/digital-only-young-adults/developing-emotional-resilience-throughout-the-race-of-life?lang=eng)

 

 

 

 (Picture of my father and mother holding our youngest, Logan)

Hello Mom--Let's pretend for just a minute that the veil between heaven and earth is parted and I am able to give you a Mother's Day card. Of course I would love to run to you and hug and kiss you, but if a written missive is all that I am allowed, I will gladly take the opportunity.

I have been thinking about you this week and relishing in memories. I have fond memories of growing up, of living with you and learning from you. After I left the home you continued to have a great influence on me. Even though you are no longer with us, you continue to be a light and an example.

I admire your positivity. You never complained! You never murmured.  I don't remember you saying anything negative.  You must have felt those feelings occasionally (right!?), but you never expressed them. For you, life was happy, marriage was happy, motherhood was happy, and living the gospel was joyful and fulfilling. Your happiness and hope went hand in hand with your trust in the Lord.  You did not doubt His love nor His power.  You knew He would stand by His people (including you and your family), and you believed in His promises.  When you prayed, you had complete trust that He was listening and would respond. You were able to transmit this happiness and hope to your family members.  We leaned on your optimism and faith. We joked about your prayers being more powerful, but it was because we knew you were so believing! You backed up your pleas for help with great faith and marvelous blessings were granted.

I know that you are still watchful of family members, that you are smiling, and that your love is constant. I know you are about the Lord's work in some way. Your family members adore you and praise your name. You are forever loved!

"These are indeed turbulent times--a world-wide pandemic, protests and riots, wide-spread unemployment, a surge in crime and election concerns.  Is it possible to be optimistic under such circumstances, or to the contrary, is it a time to yield to negativism and pessimism? In other words, can someone be realistic and optimistic at the same time?" These are the questions Tad R. Callister posed in a recent article.

Elder Callister answered the questions by paraphrasing Christ's words in John 16:33, "I am realistic enough to know that you will have trials and tribulations in life, but I can promise you that underlying it all you can be of good cheer.  Why? Because once I complete the Atonement, there is no external force--no loss of life, or sickness, or economic disaster, or divorce, or other outside trial that can prevent you from being exalted, provided you are obedient and endure to the end."

Elder Callister concludes, "The Savior has taken upon Him the heavy lifting. He has left us with a load, but a manageable one."

How comforting! We are covered completely by the Atonement! It is because of the sacrifice of the Savior that we can endure all things with hope and optimism. Our loads are "manageable" because of His grace and the strength He provides.

One more quote on this subject--by LeGrand Richards, "I just do the best I can and leave the worrying to the Lord."

(Church News, October 18, 2020, "Can We Be Optimistic in Turbulent Times?")

Here is a message from Eleanor Roosevelt, delivered to the nation in December, 1941 during her weekly radio show called "Over Our Coffee Cups." Her words are applicable to us today! (bold lettering added by me)

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking to you tonight at a very serious moment in our history. The Cabinet is convening and the leaders in Congress are meeting with the President. The State Department and Army and Navy officials have been with the President all afternoon. In fact, the Japanese ambassador was talking to the president at the very time that Japan’s airships were bombing our citizens in Hawaii and the Philippines and sinking one of our transports loaded with lumber on its way to Hawaii.

By tomorrow morning the members of Congress will have a full report and be ready for action.

In the meantime, we the people are already prepared for action. For months now the knowledge that something of this kind might happen has been hanging over our heads and yet it seemed impossible to believe, impossible to drop the everyday things of life and feel that there was only one thing which was important — preparation to meet an enemy no matter where he struck. That is all over now and there is no more uncertainty.

We know what we have to face and we know that we are ready to face it.

I should like to say just a word to the women in the country tonight. I have a boy at sea on a destroyer, for all I know he may be on his way to the Pacific. Two of my children are in coast cities on the Pacific. Many of you all over the country have boys in the services who will now be called upon to go into action. You have friends and families in what has suddenly become a danger zone. You cannot escape anxiety. You cannot escape a clutch of fear at your heart and yet I hope that the certainty of what we have to meet will make you rise above these fears.

We must go about our daily business more determined than ever to do the ordinary things as well as we can and when we find a way to do anything more in our communities to help others, to build morale, to give a feeling of security, we must do it. Whatever is asked of us I am sure we can accomplish it. We are the free and unconquerable people of the United States of America.

To the young people of the nation, I must speak a word tonight. You are going to have a great opportunity. There will be high moments in which your strength and your ability will be tested. I have faith in you. I feel as though I was standing upon a rock and that rock is my faith in my fellow citizens.

Some words I have been thinking about:

FEAR--an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

PANIC--sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.

ADJUST--alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result.

CHANGE--make or become different.

LEARN--gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.

TRUST--firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

PREPARE--make (someone) ready or able to do or deal with something.

OPTIMISM--hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.

HOPE--a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. A feeling of trust.

HELP--make it easier for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources. Serve someone.

RELY--depend on with full trust or confidence.

FAITH--complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

Did you know there are additional articles that are not included in the printed Ensign magazine but are available online only? I read one such article that was written particularly for young single adults that I really liked.  The title is "14 Ways to Get Your Emotional Health Back on Track" by Heather J. Johnson. Heather provides lots of ideas for strengthening your emotional health, such as:

1. Prayer
2. Scripture reading
3. Church attendance
4. Service
5. Eating well
6. Getting enough sleep
7. Physical Exercise
8. Evaluate the balance in your life--check the time you put into each category.
9. Pray for help instead of fixes.
10. Know what you can handle and when you need to reach out for help.
11. Talk honestly with friends and family.
12. Don't procrastinate.
13. Envision success! Mentally practice positive outcomes.
14. Focus on what you do right.
15. Avoid comparing yourself to others.
16. Let go of what you cannot control.
17. Accept the reality of some boring routines.
18. Avoid creating drama, intensity, or conflict.
19. Don't feed your anger.  Make the choice not to fuel anger.
20. Resist the tendency to blame or shame others.  Resist the tendency to blame or shame yourself.  Instead figure out what the problem is regardless of whose fault it is.
21. Listen to the Spirit, not to negativity.

I won't tell you which items on this list are the most difficult for me, but there are some that I definitely need to work on. I want to be emotionally steady and strong because I feel like my emotional health has an effect on every facet of my life. I think I need to read this list often.

I have one piano student that is fearless.  She never says, "Oh, that looks hard," or "I can't do that." I show her a new piece and she is excited.  I show her a piece with flats and sharps and she giggles with delight.  I show her a piece strewn with eighth notes and sixteenth notes and she says, "Oh, can I try it?" She is not afraid to try, in fact, she likes to try.  Her attitude is so refreshing and healthy.  When she tries a piece for the first time, she will often make mistakes but she likes to figure it out.  She will practice a piece until she gets it right.  

I can learn a lot from her attitude:
Don't be scared of things that look hard.
Break something new or hard down into small pieces or sections.
Practice something until you become familiar with it.
Some things that look hard aren't as hard as they seem.
A brave attitude can make the task more enjoyable and maybe even easier.
On the other hand, a fearful attitude can make the task miserable and maybe even harder.
Positivism goes hand in hand with success.
Try!  Try again.

Things are looking up!

My grandson is home from the hospital and doing well.

It has been over 60 degrees here!

This week a midterm was taken and a writing portfolio turned in.  

Those can now be taken off my "to-do" list.

My husband is very thoughtful.

I have kind friends and family members.

I feel hope.  I feel happiness.  I feel gratitude.  I feel loved.

Don't you love this man?  I do!  His words in the Ensign this month have lifted me.  I want to put them to memory and repeat them every day.  These are the words that I am talking about:

I am an optimist!  

My plea is that we stop seeking out 

the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.  Keep trying.  Be believing.  Be happy.  

Don't get discouraged.  

Things will work out.

Another thought from a friend--

I read these words this week from Kevn J. Worthen, current president of Brigham Young University:

There are certain things, some of them essential to our exaltation, that we can learn only through experience.  We could not have remained in our premortal condition, memorized all the attributes of godhood, and then, after passing a written exam, become like our heavenly parents.  We came to earth to "prove" ourselves, to learn from our own experiences how to know good from evil and other important lessons we could learn only by our own experience. 

In things that are routine but essential to our eternal progress--things like daily prayer, daily scriptures study, and regular church attendance--we should strive to eliminate all failings.  In these matters we can come very close to perfection very quickly, and it is important that we do so, because success in these endeavors provides a secure foundation.

Challenge yourself.  You may discover skills, talents, and joys you would otherwise miss out on.  Your mortal experience will be a more productive part of your quest for perfection if you intentionally stretch yourself with new challenges, especially those that involve a real risk of failure.  As someone once observed, "If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?"

The most common characteristic of those who are able to overcome almost any kind of uncontrollable failure is that they are optimistic.  And the good news is that people can be taught to some degree "to think like optimists."

Craig L. Manning is a mental strength coach.  He coaches athletes on the mental skills they need to succeed when stakes are high, but I think his advice is applicable to all:

People under pressure will leave their mental space empty, allowing the negative to get in. Negative thoughts and worrying will block access to your subconscious memories, causing a memory slip--you literally forget all of the training because your mind is occupied with negativity.

The first step in developing mental strength is creating a can-do mind set.  Occupying your conscious mind with thoughts of what you can do eliminates doubt and fear and all the negative thinking that interferes with performance.  Make sure you are thinking, not worrying.  If you hold on to two to three thoughts--or cues, you will leave no room for negative thought.

Control the controllable.  Whenever you don't feel like you have control, the anxiety goes up and performance is going to drop off dramatically.  

The more you perfect the things you can control, the better you will perform.  Practice does not make perfect; practice makes permanent--so in whatever you do, make sure you're practicing the right things to create the right memories.

(BYU Magazine, Spring 2015, Refer to TheFearlessMind.com)

President Gordon Hinckley said this about optimism:

"Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.  

I am suggesting that as we go through life we accentuate the positive.  

I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voice of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.  What I am suggesting to each of you is that you turn from negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom you will associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, 

that our faith exceed our fears.  Look for good and build on it.  

There is so much of the strong and the decent and the beautiful to build upon."  (address at BYU Hawaii commencement, June 1983)

I love President Hinckley.  He is such a great example of fortitude and optimism.  This quote inspires me to find the positive and dwell on the good things in life.  Some think that it is easier to be negative than positive,  it is easier to find fault than to praise, and it is easier to pick apart rather than build.  Do negative words and thoughts come off my tongue easier and more often than positive ones? 

Sometimes I feel negative about the state of the nation, but the other night when we had our caucus meetings, I was thrilled at the simple freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of this great nation.  We have the right to meet, we have the right to express opinions, and we have the right to vote.  I need to be more positive about America.

So, my take away from President Hinckley's quote is to:
1.  Look for the good in people.
2.  Look for the good in the country.
3.  Look for the good in situations I am in.
4.  Look for the good in every lesson and talk I hear.
5.  Look for the good in my husband and other family members.
6.  Be a positive person.  Positive people are pleasant to be around.