Comparing ourselves

One of the biggest threats to our women today, not only is self enflicted but it's extremely contagious.
Comparing ourselves.  Whether it's comparing to other women, or what we see in social media, we ourselves choose to compare and it becomes highly addictive. How so? When we search on social media for example, we scroll through all different kinds of images and posts that ignites in us feelings of jealousy, self loathing, and insecurities. These are all part of the feeling brain, not the thinking brain. We actually become habitual in our feeling brain responses- this leads to criticism of others and ourselves. It's a viscous cycle that only we ourselves can stop.
How do we stop?
Well our brains have a natural tendency to make comparisons. All the ways we compare ourselves to others are the same way we find value in our lives. So the answer isn't to stop comparing ourselves, but to change the object of comparison to ourselves. Measure yourself against yourself!
Comparing is a decision that only steals the joy fro our lives and a habit with too many shortcomings.
Comparisons are always unfair, we usually are comparing what we feel is the worst about ourselves to what we think is the best of others. Not to mention how much time we waist!!
Changing the habit of comparing can start with recognizing our own strengths, talents and successes. Recognizing these and then striving to pursue those talents and gifts is a worthy cause. Count your blessings daily. This sounds too simple to have an impact, however this daily practice can be life changing.
We want to be the best version of ourselves, work hard to take care of yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Who you are today is a result of the decisions you made yesterday. When you find yourself comparing, stop and re-direct your thoughts.
You are unique and have a special work to do here on earth. Find that purpose, pursuer your own happiness and remember, YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF GOD!!

Love mom

Elder Nelson young adult devotional

Elder Nelson

Sister Nelson talks as well and it's really amazing how she talks about intimacy

Blessing from pops and jaron

Theses are the things I remember him saying:

-read and study your  patriarchal blessing, let it be a source of comfort
-surround yourself with valiant people. Search for them- keep yourself in valiant places
-keep a journal and be faithful about it
-don't get discouraged- remember your strength
-remember the principles of the gospel that have been taught to you
-remember this blessing and what the lord told you, remember this blessing in times when you feel discouraged
-Attend the devotionals
-Have joy!

What a wonderfull opportunity you had to have your brother stand in on your blessing. Wow

Can you see Gods power?

I was reading the scriptures this morning and came across a verse that is frequently used throughout the entire books of scripture and that is this- and the Lord did show forth His power unto them, preserving them.

It got me thinking, that the majority of the time when God "showed forth his power" it was because the people had just humbled themselves before Him. Wether it was from famine, drought, or they were about to loose a war and be killed, it was caused by their iniquity, their distance from God. Once they faced death, they then would turn to him, humble themselves and God would show forth His power unto them by bringing rain for the drought or relief from the bloodshed of the war.

So, do we recognize the power of God in our lives everyday, I think if we can do this, we might avoid  having to be compelled to be humble.

Covenants

McKenna,

As I think about all the things I want to tell you before you leave my "nest" I can think of at least a hundred things I want you yo know. However really, it all comes down to one thing..... Temple covenants. 

I know you have had to listen to my rants about how I love the temple but I want to make sure you really know why. 

I will admit that when I went through the temple for the first time, and even several times after that- I really didnt understand the power that can come from the covenants I had made. I knew it was what I was supposed to do, and wanted to do but, didnt fully understand. 

I remember when things really stared to get tough and i didnt know where to get peace. Peace from my worries, my thoughts, my fears,,,,I started attending the temple more and more. I would go fasting, looking for answers but only expecting peace. It never failed, Id feel peace every time. 

I have so many experiences that I have written down in my temple journal that one day you will have. I just know McKenna, that there is no other way to find peace, to receive the fullness of His love, His presence and His will for you, than at the temple.  

When i felt I had just lost everything, when divorce was looking more and more real, I was scared. Scared for my children and their future. I remember as I was participating in the endowment session, I felt an overwhelming peace that everything was gong to be ok because I had kept my covenants. That my children were gong to be ok because I had kept my covenants. I knew that the road would be hard but I had faith in those promises made to me. 

I know that you are gong to be busy, but please, nothing will be more powerful to help you through school than that will of the power that comes from attending the temple. 

When you find someone to share a future with one day, I hope that you will have quickly observed if he loves the temple. If he does BEFORE he is married then he will after. 

You too need to be solid in your testimony of temple worship. Its the most solid basis to build your relationship on. But you must first love it before you love a man.

Elder John J Featherstone says that even the very elect hearts will fail them if they

 do not worship in the temple often. The very elect! Think about that. You cant afford to let this slip by. Dont for one second think that you cant serve there now or think that you are too busy. I promise you, as your mother, that if you make it a habit and first in your life, you sill see miracles in your life mckenna, you will always have what you need and you will not need to fear in anyway because you will have confidence in the blessings thatcovenants.



Now a different aspect relating to covenants. Id like you to consider how much you value your baptismal covenants. How much do you think about them during the day? I would like to invite you to ponder this and recognize just how much or how little they enter you mind each day
I bring this up because something very valuable I learned these past few years is this: I have come to love God because I have come to value my covenants. When temptation arises I will immediately think about my covenants and how much they mean to me, how much I need the blessings and the choice becalmed easy. For example, I love coffee- really I do. Used to drink it in high school and just love it. I was cleaning a clients house and he had a pot of coffee waiting for me and offfered it. I said yes and the cup of amazing warm coffee was sitting there waiting for me. He left the room so he wouldn't have even seen me drink it. I started to justify that it's not a big deal and its better than coke. (Which I do think it is ha)  but that didn't matter- it was against the commandments. I felt a love for God at that moment and a desire not to loose any blessings- I loved God more than i wanted a drink of coffee.
When you face choices in your life, if you learn to value your covenants more than anything else, you will love God more than anything else. The choices that seem so hard to make will not be hard anymore.

Listen to the prophets voice.

My favorite talks I have listened to that have all made some impact on me in a big way.

You might not get the same message out of a talk that I did but I know that when I have emerged myself in the words of these men, I have been blessed.

Sometimes you need to turn off the music and just listen to the prophets! If you go to BYU devotional and listen to old talks from the prophets before they became prophets...those are amazing.



However long and hard the road1 Elder Holland

Cast not away therefore thy confidence - Elder Holland


Things as they really are- Bednar

Lesson from Liberty Jail- Elder Holland

Remember Lots Wife- Elder Holland

A summer with great aunt rose-Uchdorf


But if Not
Be not afraid, only believe - Uchdorf

Spiritual beings having the human experience

When you feel desperate and lonely and weak, you are in your mind. You need to find a way back to your spirit, by always remembering him. Turning to God.

The only way to feel that peace, it to turn to Christ.

What if you turn to Him and he still doesn't heal your scars? Why didn't he Heal his scars? So that we would always remember Him. So maybe He doesn't always heal our scar so that we will remember Him.

Now listen to this video and take notes! Its a good one.