Time to Celebrate!

Today I am celebrating a whole month of keeping my commitment to blog every day for a year. Even though it is such a simple little thing to do, it has been so helpful in my steady progress and improvement. This commitment has kept my focus on simple habits that has helped see me through some challenges and distractions. So far, I have only really worked on deeper breathing, drinking more water, and a morning routine (with a deadline to finish) that includes a little something from each point of the star. It has been surprisingly interesting how these simple habits make it easier to be motivated in all other areas throughout the day. Even as challenges come up that would normally derail me, I am discovering how much deep breathing is such a calming and re grounding tool that keeps me on track; and blogging at the end of the day is like a nightly personal accountability session.

Confessions of a Control Freak

I must always remember that self-improvement is just that--working on me. The best thing I can do when there is difficulty in a relationship is ask myself, "Is it I?" (see Peter's response when Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him) That means that I am humble and open to my personal responsibility instead of being mad and blaming someone else. Even if I am not responsible, I will still benefit from letting other people own their problems. It means I keep my focus on what I can control and give up trying to fix or control someone else. I can simply love and support, but not control. There is nothing more depressing than trying to control something I have no control over. Darn it, why didn't I vote for Satan's plan? Kidding, I know it is wrong but sometimes I just want to save someone from their own destructive choices. Back to work on my own self-improvement.

Heavenly Father's tender mercies

I have to express gratitude that miracles have happened and continue to happen as I have experienced my Heavenly Father's tender mercy in His direction and influence. Lately I have received many answers to my prayers in very dramatic ways. Is all I have to do is ask, then have faith that it will happen, be aware of the unique way the prayer is answered, and then offer my gratitude.

I also know that we can all be the answer to someone's prayer, and I am committed to following the inspiration that I receive because there is so much joy in witnessing God's love and concern for His children, and knowing that He will use even someone as inept as me.

Swinging on the Pendelum

I believe in what I have named the pendulum principle. Anything taken to an extreme in one direction will be subject to going in the extreme in the opposite direction. For example, if I try and take my diet in the extreme and just eat celery and water, eventually I will be attacking girl scouts and stealing their cookies, then back to bizarre healthy eating, then swinging back to Neilson's frozen custard and on and on. This principle doesn't just relate to the physical, but the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. I find this also happens with my morning routine. Either I'm hot or I'm cold, I'm up or I'm down, (as I break into song). I am trying to get my morning routine of "saw sharpening" back under control and find that I am prone to swing from still wearing my exercise clothes at noon and not having even done any exercising, to having all my "sharpening" tasks completed by 6 am. I can tell if I am in one extreme or the other by the self awareness that comes from deep breathing and noticing if I am stressed, bored or at peace. Stress means I am doing too much, bored means too little, and peace is just right, just like the baby bear.

Sharpen the Saw

Speaking of balance, I love what Stephen R. Covey teaches about someone trying to cut down a tree with a dull saw and having it take so long. It was suggested that they take time out to sharpen the saw and then it will be easier. Now I realize this won't come as a big surprise, but I have a tendency to be pretty dull myself; and so I find it helpful to do something in each point of the star everyday so I stay sharp (or should I say not be so dull). I just realized, the points of the star are sharp too--isn't that special! So anyway, my commitment is to always make an effort to do something physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual everyday.

Balance the Star

I have decided that in order to create a more balanced focus that I want to move around the points of the star. Once again, imagine the point pointing to the top is the spiritual, top right is the physical, bottom right the mental, bottom left is the emotional and top left if the social. Finally the center is the correct principles. With all the hard work on just the physical aspect with all the breathing, drinking, and sleeping (I am so overworked!), I was feeling like my star was a tad lopsided and starting to spin out of control, and so now I will move around the star and give some attention to the other points.

I do know that when I talked about examining our core beliefs and making sure that they are in line with truth, that it becomes a focus on the connection between the spiritual point and the mental point of the star. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel that must drive our attitudes and mental focus. "What think ye of Christ?" is a relevant question that connects our spiritual faith and mental attitude.

It is important that I am aware of my thoughts and making sure they are connected to my faith in my Savior and in my Father in Heaven. It is also important that I take advantage of the power of prayer and pray that my Heavenly Father will help me direct my thoughts because the Spirit can direct my thoughts just like my thoughts can affect how I feel spiritually. I know that examination of thoughts kind of comes into focus when I slow down and take some deep breaths.

I Believe

I am learning how powerful my beliefs are--for good or ill. What I tend to believe, especially about myself, is based on past performance and tangible evidence; and those false beliefs can keep me stuck in old, unhealthy patterns. I am noticing that once I get stuck in an unhealthy belief that the pattern quickly becomes a vicious cycle. The less I believe I can be successful at something, then I seem to naturally live up to that negative belief, and then it continues to strengthen that belief and on and on and on.

That is why faith becomes so powerful because having faith is hoping "for things which are not seen, which are true." (Alma 32:21) My negative beliefs aren't the truth about me and it is through faith that I can transcend my experience and unhealthy patterns and envision the true possibilities.