Life can be pretty hard sometimes don't you think? I know that it can be for me. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, undervalued, and exhausted. Blaming others or even simply a circumstance seems easy to justify our negative reactions of complaining, acting grumpy, or even becoming apathetic. Over the last several months or so I have learned that those feelings come by our own choice. Now let me explain why I came to that conclusion.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I believe that "man will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" (Articles of Faith 1:2). I believe that I will be accountable for all of my actions or inaction's and my behavior. I believe in agency meaning I believe that I can choose to do what I will with my life, but there are positive and negative consequences for every choice I make including my behavior and attitude. I believe that God lives and has set specific guidelines and commandments that are meant to benefit us rather than limit us. I know that as I choose to follow God's commandments, I can feel complete peace and happiness. I can progress and experience freedom. I know that as I keep the commandments, God will bless me.
I have thought and prayed about these things a lot. Friends and family helped me overcome my feelings of overwhelmed, undervalued, and exhausted. However, I feel the most complete and satisfying peace as I choose to follow the commandments of God. I learned that I was feeling so negative because I was choosing to do so. It was a way for me to get attention fast if I complained about those feelings to others. As I choose to think about happy things (family, good parts of the day, gratitude, etc.) I feel happy. I feel even more peace as I thank God for those things. By focusing on the good aspects of my life, I could easily see that God is paying attention to me. Why would I need to create a reason to get attention from anyone else?
Life can be hard, but it does not need to be. You can choose to be optimistic, composed, relaxed, and happy. You can also choose to over schedule your time, live an unhealthy lifestyle, and neglect the spiritual aspect of your life. I know that as you choose to be positive and actually do positive things (example: keep the commandments) with a heart full of gratitude, God will help you overcome whatever your trials may be. It might take time, but God is ever aware of you and will not leave you to fall permanently. I know that as you choose to do the things that God and His Son Jesus Christ would have you do, you will feel complete happiness and peace. It is totally worth the sacrifice. Promise.
2 comments:
I agree with everything, but I would really like to draw a lengthy look at the last thought. God requires us to sacrifice everything we have if we are to obtain what he has. Also, one of the few clearly spelled out blessings that God gives us in the scriptures that we can test is that of happiness and peace. Something must be said about how magnificent it is too. There are countless people who have had the choice to renounce God, thereby losing the blessings that he gives (happiness and peace), but instead of denying their faith, they often chose to die while rejoicing in their God.
The happiness and peace that God brings is so amazing that it eclipses the pain and fear of death. Something that can easily overcome one of the greatest fears people have is definitely something that is worth spending time to obtain.
John thank you for posting this! It explains beautifully what I was trying to communicate. Thank you!
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