Resolution: An Attitude of Gratitude

On the first day of November, it is a good time to think about "liv[ing] in thanksgiving daily" (Alma 34:38). As I did last year, I am resolving to make a "gratitude journal" post on my blog every day this month.

Quote of the Day

"Seeking happiness outside ourselves is
like waiting for sunshine in a cave facing north."

~Tibetan Saying

God Wants Me To Be Happy!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

My friend Holly has another post that reminds me about seeking happiness and joy: My Happiness Manifesto. The principles she lists could be considered her personal commandments!

"Give Me Patience, and Give It to Me Right Now"

I've been feeling frustrated the past few days by the lack of resolution to a situation in my life. So this afternoon I am appreciating this reminder from my friend Holly - in a form of a prayer in a blog post - to be patient and content with the present, to let go and let God.

Lord, teach me to be patient—with life, with people,and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein. Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen.

Getting Enough Sleep

‎"Happiness consists in getting enough sleep.
Just that, nothing more."

~ Robert A. Heinlein

Last weekend I attended my annual women's retreat. The theme this year was "Earth, Air, Fire, Water: Embracing Wholeness" - and one of the workshops was on creating a happiness project!

For the introductions on Friday, we were each to select one of the elements - earth correlating to body, air to mind, fire to spirit, and water to emotions/relationships - and tell, in one minute or less, what we're doing to embrace wholeness through that element.

I choose earth, or body, because I've realized that that element is the one I neglect most and which I most need to embrace if I'm going to be whole. For my introduction I told the group about my Early to Bed resolution and shared Robert Heinlein's quote. I got a good laugh - while also sharing a great truth!

A More Methodical Approach

"When life was taking its ordinary course,
it was hard to remember what really mattered."

~ Gretchen Rubin

Last Sunday, as I was sitting in church, I was reflecting on the fact that I've been working on my happiness project for about a year and yet I haven't spent a lot of time on making and keeping resolutions. I certainly recognize the truth of Gretchen Rubin's statement in my own life, especially since I started working full-time again at the end of December.

Over the next few months I'm going to take a more methodical approach to developing and implementing some new resolutions to help me focus on what really matters and to have more happiness.

To Lift Me Up When I'm Down

"If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful" (D&C 136:29).

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

"You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:16-17).

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed"
(Isaiah 53:4-5).

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

"Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost. And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall"
(D&C 50:41-44).

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me"
(Isaiah 49:16).

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22).

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"
(2 Timothy 1:7).

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(Romans 8:35, 37-39).

"For verily I say unto you, that great things await you"
(D&C 45:62).

Quote of the Day

"You don't need more time ...
you just need to decide."

~Seth Godin

Thoughts on Simplicity

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

~Leonardo da Vinci

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."

~Mahatma Ghandi

Amidst the multitude of voices and choices, the humble Man of Galilee stands with hands out-stretched, waiting. His is a simple message: "Come, follow me" (Luke 18:22). And He does not speak with a powerful megaphone but with a still, small voice (see 1 Kings 19:12).

Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. ... Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship —the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most," Ensign, November 2010, 20, 22.

What does it mean to simplify? What are the things that matter most?

One Word for 2011

Note: There is more information in the original post on my "regular" blog.

Order

or·der \ˈȯr-dər\

noun : a : state or condition especially with regard to functioning or repair b : a proper, orderly, or functioning condition

transitive verb : to put in order : arrange

intransitive verb : to bring about order : regulate

Synonyms — order, arrange, marshal, organize, systematize, methodize mean to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other. order suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion. arrange implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment. marshal suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use. organize implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function. systematize implies arranging according to a predetermined scheme. methodize suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme.

The one-word theme of Order will be a reminder to me of my desires to declutter and to prioritize, to create effective family routines and to remember what matters most. I think Order can encompass the important concepts of simplifying and of balancing. I think it also covers the crucial tasks of managing my time, using my money wisely, and monitoring my energy levels. I can even see Order as a principle for maintaining my relationships with family and friends and as a directive for furthering my professional goals.