All day I've been thinking about what to post. What mood was I feeling, what was I experiencing? Actually it didn't take long for me to zero in on "annoyance". And so in my head I listed all the things that were annoying to me on this Monday. Tonight I sat down to share my list of annoyances with the world, but first I visited a friends blog. She had created her own kind of list, and by the end of it I had turned a full 180. I didn't want to be annoyed, think about annoying things, or write about annoyances. I don't want to be that person. I want to be happy, and grateful, and a joy to be around (both in blog world and the real world).
What am I grateful for today? Friends that make me want to be a better person. And change. I am so thankful that after a day of negative thinking I can still change in time to end on a good note! No matter what did, or didn't, get done today I feel so much more victorious now!
One of my favorite quotes is from President James E. Faust and I will share it with you.
"Each new day that dawns can be a new day for us to begin to change. We can change our environment. We can change our lives by substituting new habits for old. We can mold our character and future by purer thoughts and nobler actions. As someone once put it, “The possibility of change is always there, with its hidden promise of peace, happiness, and a better way of life.”"
Showing posts with label Monday Moodness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday Moodness. Show all posts
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday Moodness - A Song in the Heart
Some days I'm not happy. I'm sure you can relate. Is it possible to be happy ALL the time? I don't think so, because that isn't the point of our existence here. We are here to feel and experience the good along with the bad, as it says in 2 Nephi 2:11 -
Not long ago I was cycling through a particularly long bout of "wallowing". I don't like depression, or sadness, or self pity. They don't feel good. So I struggle to fix it. I pray, I read scriptures, I try to find something that will break through my self-made wall of negativity. One day, while driving home, a thought came to me. "Sing a song". So I did. Some random Primary song that always sticks with you once you learn it. And I felt lighter.
Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 -
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto
So I started singing. Mostly in my head, or whenever it's just me and the kids in the car, and always hymns or primary songs. I don't have a huge selection to pull from my memory but I am totally okay with that. And apparently my Heavenly Father is too, because I HAVE been blessed. Do we have our own place? - No. Has our income increased? - No. Do the dishes magically clean themselves? - No. But I'm happier.
What makes you happy?
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so..., righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
And I'm okay with that. I learn from the hard times and really feel the sweetness of the happy times. But sometimes I "wallow". My life is not perfect. We have been struggling for independence our whole married life and the goal still seems far off. (More on this later). It is so easy for me to see the negative side of "life". My desires for our future are so shockingly different from our 'now' that I often miss the beauty, and peace, and wonderfulness of the moment. I'm working on this.
Not long ago I was cycling through a particularly long bout of "wallowing". I don't like depression, or sadness, or self pity. They don't feel good. So I struggle to fix it. I pray, I read scriptures, I try to find something that will break through my self-made wall of negativity. One day, while driving home, a thought came to me. "Sing a song". So I did. Some random Primary song that always sticks with you once you learn it. And I felt lighter.
That night as a perused the scriptures I came across this scripture, already highlighted by previous study.
For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto
me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.
"Is it really this easy?" I thought. The answer to my troubles is song? I'll do it! I'll try anything! But I wondered what the blessing would be for me.
So I started singing. Mostly in my head, or whenever it's just me and the kids in the car, and always hymns or primary songs. I don't have a huge selection to pull from my memory but I am totally okay with that. And apparently my Heavenly Father is too, because I HAVE been blessed. Do we have our own place? - No. Has our income increased? - No. Do the dishes magically clean themselves? - No. But I'm happier.
By keeping a song in my heart my mood was lifted and I feel capable of really enduring to the end. It is a daily reminder of the goodness of God and His love for me. My thoughts are happier and I am able to more fully enjoy my family and our everyday life. I started singing for my own benefit, for whatever blessings would be bestowed upon my head. Now I sing with a true feeling of praise, as a way to portray my gratitude and love for my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
It is so easy to carry a song in the heart! It is small and light, and creates a positive energy that can lift and protect us from the worry and negativity of this world. It makes me happy!
What makes you happy?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday Moodness
par-a-noid: Exhibiting or characterized by extreme and irrational fear or distrust of others
I felt that today. Actually I think I have been getting more paranoid as the years go by. Maybe it comes from watching the news, or maybe because I now have kids and that makes me more protective. I don't know that I would describe my personal paranoia as "extreme" or "irrational", but those three little words, "distrust of others" and sometimes even "fear of others" definitely hit home.
I took my little boy to the library today (we love our library!). Played with some blocks, talked a little too loudly, and found ourselves some books. On the way back to our car I heard a woman and looked up to see her, still walking but turned toward a man that had passed her and saying a string of words. I didn't recognize those words.
Here was my thought process:
- they must know each other, and be from a different country.
- I wonder what language it was?
- Oh...she was cursing at him
- yup, those were bad words...wonder what he did
- maybe they bumped shoulders because he didn't look up in time
- the snow really does get in your eyes
- Oh well, it's cold, get to the car!
Okay, so we made it to the car and I was very aware that the cursed out man got into the car right next to ours. Then he got out to sweep the snow off his windows.
He said: How are you?!
I said: Good thanks!
He said: How's life on 'so-and-so' street?
I said: Cold!
and got in the car.
More thought process:
- he must think he knows me
- he doesn't know me!
- maybe he was just trying to be friendly
- maybe he really did something rude to that woman
- maybe he was trying to "chat me up" and find out if lived nearby
Glad to be in the car and on my way. But slightly more aware of that guy and the fact that he is turning the same way I am.
- Is he really FOLLOWING me!
Now I wasn't freaking out, just a little worried, and uncomfortable until there were a few cars between us. But there it is. I've always been kind of proud of myself for thinking the best of people and giving them the benefit of the doubt. I would like to think that I still do this, but it is becoming obvious to me that I more quickly revert to the paranoid, skeptic point of view. Do people always have shady, ulterior motives? Of course not, that's just silly! Are SOME people a little strange and need to be left alone? Of course! Should we shun everyone and only pay attention to close friends and family? Of course not! That's no way to live and share the joy of the gospel.
Because we cannot control people around us, we can potentially be in some very uncomfortable or scary situations. I'm so thankful for the teachings of the gospel that help me through these everyday happenings, big or small. I CAN control my own actions. I can say my prayers, I can read scriptures, I can learn to more fully feel and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I can trust that my Heavenly Father knows how every minute of my life will be played out, and He can prepare me accordingly. Hopefully I can remember these things, and find more peace in my random interactions with strangers.
I felt that today. Actually I think I have been getting more paranoid as the years go by. Maybe it comes from watching the news, or maybe because I now have kids and that makes me more protective. I don't know that I would describe my personal paranoia as "extreme" or "irrational", but those three little words, "distrust of others" and sometimes even "fear of others" definitely hit home.
I took my little boy to the library today (we love our library!). Played with some blocks, talked a little too loudly, and found ourselves some books. On the way back to our car I heard a woman and looked up to see her, still walking but turned toward a man that had passed her and saying a string of words. I didn't recognize those words.
Here was my thought process:
- they must know each other, and be from a different country.
- I wonder what language it was?
- Oh...she was cursing at him
- yup, those were bad words...wonder what he did
- maybe they bumped shoulders because he didn't look up in time
- the snow really does get in your eyes
- Oh well, it's cold, get to the car!
Okay, so we made it to the car and I was very aware that the cursed out man got into the car right next to ours. Then he got out to sweep the snow off his windows.
He said: How are you?!
I said: Good thanks!
He said: How's life on 'so-and-so' street?
I said: Cold!
and got in the car.
More thought process:
- he must think he knows me
- he doesn't know me!
- maybe he was just trying to be friendly
- maybe he really did something rude to that woman
- maybe he was trying to "chat me up" and find out if lived nearby
Glad to be in the car and on my way. But slightly more aware of that guy and the fact that he is turning the same way I am.
- Is he really FOLLOWING me!
Now I wasn't freaking out, just a little worried, and uncomfortable until there were a few cars between us. But there it is. I've always been kind of proud of myself for thinking the best of people and giving them the benefit of the doubt. I would like to think that I still do this, but it is becoming obvious to me that I more quickly revert to the paranoid, skeptic point of view. Do people always have shady, ulterior motives? Of course not, that's just silly! Are SOME people a little strange and need to be left alone? Of course! Should we shun everyone and only pay attention to close friends and family? Of course not! That's no way to live and share the joy of the gospel.
Because we cannot control people around us, we can potentially be in some very uncomfortable or scary situations. I'm so thankful for the teachings of the gospel that help me through these everyday happenings, big or small. I CAN control my own actions. I can say my prayers, I can read scriptures, I can learn to more fully feel and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I can trust that my Heavenly Father knows how every minute of my life will be played out, and He can prepare me accordingly. Hopefully I can remember these things, and find more peace in my random interactions with strangers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)