Hello Friends!
Have you noticed that when you do your crazy happiness dance that you can't help but smile? Yesterday is when I really observed that I do that...every time.
What about you? Do you smile every time that you do a crazy happiness dance?
Loving this tool!!
Hello Friends!
A friend of mine asked what songs I listened to for my crazy happiness. What a great idea to get ideas from others! This also helped me to go through my playlist and see which ones would be good to use. Now I can be ready with some songs instead of choosing the same one over and over because I didn't want to take the time to look for one in the moment.
Here are some on my playlist that I thought I would share with you.
Hello Friends!
Has this ever happened to you? One of my daughters was feeling down yesterday. So, I thought that I could do crazy happiness with her when she got home from work. I imagined how fun it would be to do it with my grandkids as well. However, when they all finally got home it was busy and I never ended up doing it.
I didn't realize that I hadn't actually done the crazy happiness tool until this morning. Of course I thought, "Why didn't I just do it when I was thinking about it? It wouldn't have been a big deal to do it twice." Next time I will just do it right then AND when the others get home.
Do you ever put things off thinking it will work better at a different time?
Hello Friends!
I fell asleep on the couch yesterday. I felt like I could sleep for many more hours, but instead I got up, turned on some music and danced around the room. My 16 year old son fell asleep on the couch too. I got him up off the couch, moved his arms and hands around but to no avail...he didn't start to dance. He did sing with the music though. And he did stay up. So, I call that a win.
One thing I'll mention, when I dance to the whole song it sure takes a lot out of you. Part way through I tone it down a little, but I kick it up as much as I can. I really try to go all out when I'm dancing. 😀
Since we are talking about happiness I thought I would share a thought I had this morning. Sometimes it is good to have a good cry to get out all those sad emotions that you might have been holding in. Just let it out. Maybe watching a sad movie to help you get it out, or just take some time to let it go. Don't hold back. Let it pour out of you. Then fill yourself up with positive. Say your truth statements, express gratitude, do 60 seconds of crazy happiness. There are lots of ways you can fill yourself up with positive. Do what lifts you.
Have you tried doing 60 seconds of crazy happiness? Do you need to get out some emotions and have a good cry?
Hello Friends!
A friend of mine sent me a text yesterday about my blog. I just want to let you know that it means so much to me when you text, comment or tell me how you are using these tools, the benefit you are receiving or when you send encouragement! Thank you!! 💞💗 It really is those small things that can really make a huge difference in our lives. I know that whenever I receive a message from one of you it lifts me and brings a smile to my face and sometimes tears of joy. I am so grateful for you!
Yesterday, I didn't use the crazy happiness tool in the afternoon. I finally used it right before going to bed. It would have been better if I had done it when I was feeling a little tired in the afternoon. So, I am recommitting to using this tool in the afternoon, or whenever I am feeling a little down, tired, or just need a little boost of energy and a lift.
Did you use the crazy happiness tool yesterday? Did you invite family to do it with you?
Hello Friends!
Time for a new tool! I think you are going to like this one. It's a little, or maybe a lot, different than the ones we have done so far.
Shared in video:
Hello Friends!
Well, I was more intentional yesterday. I prayed and asked and pondered (which really I didn't have to ponder too long) and a neighbor came to mind. A different neighbor than the ones I've mentioned before.
I was just going to go over to her house and check on her. When I started walking over there I saw a car there that's not one of her family's and I almost turned around. I didn't want to bother her if she had company. I pushed through those thoughts and continued on.
Her husband answered the door. She wasn't there. She was in the hospital...again. I never would have found that out if I hadn't acted on that prompting, or listened to those thoughts that told me to go back home.
What a blessing it is to take heed of those promptings that we receive to reach out to others. Sometimes, oftentimes for me, we need to overcome our fears - whatever they may be - and move forward anyways.
"One true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others."
There is one thing that I think I should share. I don't think that I have mentioned this before. If I have then it will be a good reminder. 😄 Something that I do every day is study my scriptures and pray. Every day is not the same. Sometimes I study intentionally. Other times I just read some verses. It is always better when I actually study to understand, to learn more about the Lord, to know His commandments and apply them in my life. I love when I come away from my scripture study with ah-has. It lifts my spirit and brings me joy. I know that the Lord was speaking to me.
Prayer is the same way. When I really pour out my heart and take time to listen I feel so much closer to my Heavenly Father.
Scripture study and prayer are powerful in helping with my emotional health. My day starts out on an uplifting note. I use these other tools - truths and lies, gratitude, service - to help me overcome those thoughts and fears throughout the day. Right now I am still reading my truth statements about twice a day, each night writing down things I am grateful for and now striving to be intentional about reaching out to someone with love daily. Starting my day out focusing on Christ helps me focus on Him and creates a desire to want to seek out His ways of handling each area of my life.
"As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward....'Love thy neighbor' is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection."
In the New Testament it says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." I love what a leader of my church said about this..."there is no road to the heart of God that does not lead through the heart of man." ~Thomas S. Monson
Wouldn't it be so great if we could let down our walls, our fears, our insecurities and just reach out to others in love with no fear of what they may say or how they will react? If we are truly doing service out of love we will have their best interest at heart and want to bless and lift them however we can. Sometimes that might mean getting others to help as well. After all, one major reason we are all down here on this earth is to serve others. If we are on the Lord's errand we can know that what we are doing will help the other person and most assuredly will benefit us in some way as well. Even if it is only that we have more love for that person whom we are serving.
Are you including scripture study and prayer into your day? In what ways do you look heavenward?
In what ways do you look outward? Who is the Lord telling you to reach out to?
Are there fears keeping you from following those promptings?
Hello Friends!
It happened again...I really didn't feel like I did any service yesterday. I picked up my grandkids from daycare and I took a daughter to a doctor appointment. Maybe I did other things, but my kids are older. My youngest is 16. I just don't feel like I serve as much as I did when my kids were younger.
I realized today that those times when I was intentional about my service it was better. When I pray and ask who I can lift and bless that day and then take time to ponder it really helps me to feel like I am actually serving and doing the Lord's will. Yes, the other things that I do daily are service, but at this time in my life I don't do a lot of daily service for my family. Or, at least, it doesn't seem like it.
Actually, now that I think about it, there are many things that I do just not daily. For example, doing laundry. I not only wash my clothes, but I do my husband's laundry as well. My kids are all old enough to do their own. However, I have helped them with their laundry on occasion. Making meals, cleaning up, and the other things that I mentioned in another post are services that I provide on a consistent basis.
For now, I know that what will help me the most is to be intentional about my service each day. Some of you, or even most of you, are most likely serving daily with your current circumstances. For me, I feel like I need to be more intentional to make service - or to me, it's really showing my love for others which often entails getting out of my comfort zone - a daily ritual...a part of my everyday life.
Actually, about making meals, I'm thinking that perhaps I need to be more prayerful with how much I am making dinners...which isn't that many days a week...and pray to know God's will about having more of my children help with dinners. We used to do that - rotate who was in charge of making dinner. When kids get older and they have jobs that have them working many nights during the week it is difficult to have a schedule. I see that I might be doing a disservice to them by not having them help more.
Well, thank you for going on that tangent with me. That thought, that just came as I was typing this post, helps me realize a different way to serve that I might not have really recognized before...serving others by helping them learn new skills or to practice skills they already know. If I was to do all the cleaning and cooking and laundry around here my kids would leave the house without those skills that they will need when they get out on their own plus, learning hard work, responsibility, working even when they don't feel like it because others are counting on them, etc.
Are there ways that you are serving by helping others learn or practice a skill? Toddlers can learn new skills all the time...tying their shoes, brushing their teeth on their own, getting dressed by themselves. I know often times, even with having older children, I sometimes put away their things because it is easier. Am I doing a disservice by not allowing them to take responsibility for their things?
Well, that was a lot of food for thought. I would love to know what you think!
Hello Friends!
Do you ever plan doing service ahead of time? That's what I did for yesterday's service.
I have a friend who can't drive on the freeway. Before covid, I would pick her up and we would go serve in the Temple almost every week. After covid, and when the Temples reopened, it was a little more difficult to make appointments when we both could go. However, this week we were able to make appointments for the same time! It was so much fun to visit with her like old times as we traveled to and from the Temple and then to be in that beautiful, peaceful place.
What service opportunity can you plan in advance? Is there someone you can ask to do it along with you?
Hello Friends!
Have you ever had those days where you don't feel like you have given any service? That's how I felt yesterday.
There are some things that I did, but it's something I do often. So it doesn't seem to count. Things like picking up my grandkids from daycare, fixing or helping with dinner preparations and/or cleanup, helping choose hymns for the songs we will sing (and I will play) at church, practicing those songs.
I also got together with one of my daughters and we painted our toenails, watched a movie and worked on a puzzle. I'm not sure if that was service, but we had fun and it was good spending time with her.
Are there things in your day that you do all the time that you don't consider service?
I think when we really take a good look into our lives we are doing more service than we realize.
What are some of the small and simple ways that you are serving?
Here's a great article giving 5 ways on how to serve well so that we actually bless and uplift those that we serve. What a great way to check our hearts when we serve so that we don't serve with a 'better than' mentality, but with a 'we are all children of God' mentality.
Hello Friends!
Here's a poem that I came across that embodies what we are trying to do:
Go visit the lonely, the dreary;
Go comfort the weeping, the weary;
Go scatter kind deeds on your way.
Oh, make the world brighter today!
(Mrs. Frank A. Breck.)
Yesterday I went and visited my next door neighbor. We talked for three hours! It is so good to get back out there and be able to talk to people face to face. I have missed that. I know I was supposed to be there because of other things that happened. It was a good experience for me. Hopefully it blessed and lifted her. I know it blessed and lifted me.
Is there someone that might be weary or lonely that you can lift today?
Hello Friends!
Yesterday was a good day. I had a thought to go see a lady that lives in my neighborhood a couple of houses away. I usually try to text or call her with no success. Not this time. I needed to reach out to her in a different way. This time it worked. I went to her home; she was there and we had a good conversation.
It's amazing how many people are struggling that you wouldn't know about without talking with them. What a great blessing it is to be an instrument in God's hands to reach out to others and let them know that you love them. That they matter. That they are seen. That someone cares.
Who have you felt inspired to reach out to?
Hello Friends!
Are you curious to know what gift I'm giving the Savior? Well, the gift is also going to be the tool for this week.
The answer seemed obvious...after it came to me. Serve! It seems so easy. However, I realize that I get pretty consumed with my family and things that I am working on in my life (like this blog) that I don't reach out to others very often. I believe that, sometimes, focusing on your family is what you need to do. This time I feel like my focus needs to be outward, and to invite my family to do it with me as often as I can.
Serving might come easy to some. It is not the case with me. I had a couple of bad experiences doing some service years ago. That has made me second guess any service I have given since then. I know how I am filled with love when others say some kind words, bring a small gift, send a text with information that they think I would like, and I want to be that person in someone else's life.
Service doesn't have to be big. In fact, as I have been researching a little about what service really is I have learned so much about what service can look, or be, like. Let's go over some of these...
* Helping others succeed
* Recognizing others' talents/gifts/strengths and your own
* Provide small acts of kindness
Helping others succeed - Lift others and help them be successful. The only way to truly succeed is to help others succeed as well.
Recognize others' talents/gifts/strengths and your own - people like sharing things and talking about things that they enjoy and are good at. Ask someone to share with you a talent that they have. I have friends that have strengths in many different areas that are actually creating material to help others. I can't wait for them to finish.
Provide small acts of kindness - these can be anything from a high five, sending a positive text, visiting someone, attending and cheering on a friend or family member at an event, share tips and tricks, pray for them, share a clean joke: "[Laughter] will extend your life and make the lies of all those around you more enjoyable." ~ Joseph B. Wirthlin
My Plan:
- Each morning pray and ask who I can lift and bless today
- Write down the thoughts that come to my mind
- Act (pray for guidance in what to do and/or say)
How are you going to implement doing more service in your life?
*Ideas taken from a speech given at BYU by Robert D. Hales
Hello Friends!
Happy Easter! Yesterday I told you that I wanted to give a gift to the Savior and I was going to ponder about what that gift was going to be. Well, I know what it is. I will tell you what it is tomorrow.
Today, I would like to share a quote that I read that reflects what I have been going through this past week. What a great reminder of the importance of gratitude in our everyday lives...
"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." ~ Thomas S. Monson
This reminds me of a story from a book, The Hiding Place, that I read many years ago. Two sisters were sent to a concentration camp for hiding Jews. While they were there they had to stay in a room that was infested with fleas. The older sister said that they needed to thank the Lord for the fleas. The younger one did not want to thank Him for the fleas, but she did at her sister's request reminding her that they needed to thank the Lord for all things. Later they found out that because of the fleas the guards would not come into the room. They were given more freedom and were able to study the Bible. This was such a blessing...and it came because of the fleas.
Are there things that are hard right now in your life that you can express gratitude for?
My heart was so full today. I thanked so many people for their talents, their message, their influence in my life. It really does lift you when you have an attitude of gratitude and it lifts others as well when you express that gratitude.
My hope is that we will continue to have an attitude of gratitude and express it to others.
Are you going to make the commitment to look for things, people, and experiences to be grateful for in your daily life? I am committing to this in my life.
Have you seen a difference in your life (day) when you have expressed your gratitude to others?
Hello Friends!
When my kids were younger they would always ask me what I wanted for Mother's day. I would tell them that I wanted them to get along with their siblings. They didn't like that answer. They wanted to give something that they could go and buy and be done. Getting along with your siblings would be a lot of work...and it probably seemed to them an impossible feat.
Now that my kids are older all I want for gifts is for them to turn to or keep following Christ. That would be the best gift they could give me. I'm pretty sure that is how our Heavenly Parents feel. In order to express my gratitude for the gift of the Savior and His Atonement, I want to give Them a gift. My gift will be keeping His commandments better in some way. One that I might be struggling with. One that will stretch me; that might seem like an impossible feat. And then I can use His gift of the Atonement to help me. Isn't that what He wants, for us to use the gift He has given us?
I will be pondering that today...what gift can I give to my Savior?
Will you join me? What is a gift that you can give to the Savior to show your gratitude for Him?
Hello Friends!
Let me give you a little update on what's been going on over here. I have actually felt a little down the last several days. I have been reading my truth statements, I have been expressing gratitude and looking for God's hand in my life. So, I wondered, why have I been feeling down?
I've pondered about it and had a couple of thoughts why I might be feeling a little down. One thought is because of what I learned about one of my children...that brought feelings up of being an inadequate mother. I didn't recognize that I was having that thought go through my mind until yesterday. And then after going to the funeral a few days ago it reiterated those thoughts. I think the adversary is trying hard to work on me right now.
If you have feelings of being down or feel like this is too hard to do, please be aware of where those thoughts and feelings are coming from. Don't dwell on them. I am turning to God and asking for His help in knowing what I can say or do to counter those lies.
Maybe I need to up my game with expressing gratitude to others. That always lifts my soul as I think of how others have blessed my life. This one lie "I am not an adequate mother" has a lot of power over me right now. So, I think it would be beneficial to combat that lie by repeating hourly the truth statement in order to get it planted in my heart.
My truth statement to combat this lie is, "I have good, kind children. I am really blessed with such loving kids. I learn a lot from them. God accepts my offering and He will make up the difference."
Sometimes I revise my truth statements when I don't like the wording or it needs something else. Do any of your truth statements need to be revised?
How are you doing with your gratitude? Are you still using truth statements in your day? Do you have down days? What do you do when you have down days?
Hello Friends!
On Tuesday my youngest son backed into the side of my older son's car. When my older son found out, he was very calm about it, didn't get angry with his brother and then just started to try and figure out the best way to fix it. I was so grateful that he acted with love towards his younger brother, because he was already quite distraught about it.
So, yesterday, I called my oldest son and thanked him for handling the situation so calmly. We had a good discussion. He told me that he acted in the same way that he would want someone to treat him if he were in a similar situation.
Are there experiences that have happened in your life that you are grateful for? Who was responsible for it? Have you thanked them?
Hello Friends!
Yesterday I went to a funeral of an Uncle. It was good to hear from his kids, my cousins, talk about their dad. One thing that always seems to happen at funerals is they mention all the good things about that person...how grateful they are for the lessons they learned from the now deceased person.
Wouldn't it be great if we looked for those things now and then expressed to those people while they are living how they have impacted our lives? I know it lifts my heart when someone has learned or gained something valuable from me.
I just found this quote and thought it expressed what I was trying to say so eloquently:
"We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude. Speaking of loved ones he had lost, one man declared his regret this way: “I remember those happy days, and often wish I could speak into the ears of the dead the gratitude which was due them in life, and so ill returned.” ~Thomas S. Monson
After the funeral we went to a luncheon put on by church members that knew one of my cousins. I expressed my gratitude for them and how much it meant to us for their time and effort. My heart was full for an opportunity to connect longer with extended family that I haven't seen for quite some time.
Here are some more thoughts on gratitude from resources and leaders of my church:
"People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful." Gospel Topics
"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love." ~Thomas S. Monson
"We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that 'gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.'" ~Thomas S. Monson
What gratitude can you express to one or both of your parents, or family member, today?
Hello Friends!
My son and his wife were down here visiting yesterday. I was trying to get as much time in as I could with them while they are here. So, my blog post didn't get posted until last night. However, I was still able to do the action steps I wanted to take! Yay! 🥳
My goal was to write what I was grateful for and express gratitude to someone, repeat my truth statements and look for God'shand in my life that day. I was able to do all of that yesterday.
Have you expressed gratitude to someone today?
Hello Friends!
In this video I describe some of the takeaways I have had over the last week. Here's a list of the things I talk about:
Today, I am going to start using another tool. After reading up on it, I am even more sure that this is the tool I want to work on next.
The new tool for this week: GRATITUDE
The video lightly touches on some things I learned from my research. I included links below to articles and videos that have gratitude experiments and talk about the science behind gratitude.
My plan for this week:
This article shows the power that gratitude can have in our lives; what our regular frequency runs at; what happens when it goes below that; the effect of gratitude on our frequency.
Here is a video about doing an experiment using gratitude and ideas you can start using. The Gratitude Experiment
Here's an article about the energy of words. This article reinforces the power of our words and how they are spoken. Words Carry Energy
What commitment are you going to make this week to uplevel your emotional health?
Hello Friends!
Oh. My. Goodness!! I did it! Would you like to know what happened? Here it is for those that are interested.
Hello Friends!
Yesterday was such a game changer for me! Through pondering my friend's question and thinking about how I can apply the suggestions I shared I had another ah-ha.
In the scriptures it says, "Open your mouths and they shall be filled." Three different places it says this! This scripture came to my mind when I was thinking about a lie that has been coming to my mind for many years. Let me preface it by saying that I have been working on learning Spanish for many, many years. Here's the lie, "I don't know what to say to natives in Spanish; I don't even know what to say to people in English."
The Lord requires work. In this case the work seems simple...open your mouth. However, what is also required is faith and courage. I have noticed this principle to some degree when writing. I like to write something from my scripture study every day. It doesn't happen as often as I like and now I think I know why.😄 When I do write, I often have things come to my mind to write about. Just taking that little bit of effort to put my pen to paper and to start (a form of opening my mouth) the Lord blesses me with more.
I think this can apply to me speaking Spanish to natives. I often go to a Spanish speaking church on Sundays. Most of the time I sit in the back and leave as soon as it is over. Sometimes I leave even before it has ended. Tomorrow, I am committing to talk with someone...in Spanish. I am going to trust (cast out the doubt) that if I open my mouth then the Lord will fill it. Let me tell you, this is taking a huge dose of courage and faith for me! (I think I have now forgotten all the Spanish I have learned just thinking about this. 😏😅)
The example I shared above about having things come to my mind when I start to write is another tool you can use to help you overcome these lies. I learned it from my friend, Becky Edwards. She calls it a Remember List. You can use it multiple ways, but I will just share how it applies to this. After you have written down the Truth, think back in your life of experiences you have had that verifies that truth. For me, remembering that I would have insights come to me after I started writing is one of those experiences I could put on my Remember List.
The scriptures use this tool multiple times. The prophets have used it to remind the people of the great things that God has done for them...Moses parting the Red Sea, receiving manna in the wilderness, etc. (This is another part of the tool.)
So, what action are you going to take to show your faith? How are you going to cast out the doubt? What are you going to commit to doing?
Hello Friends,
"I don't know...what to say, what next steps to take, how to solve this problem...." How do we combat these lies? This is a question that a friend asked me this morning and I thought it was such a great question I wanted to answer it here.
Today I decided to make another video explaining the ideas I had and how I used the 'as if' tool in my life. So powerful!
Here is what I talked about in the video:
Hello Friends!
Something unexpected happened...
Repeating my truth statements went pretty well yesterday. Honestly, it didn't seem that I had any lies pop into my head throughout the day except one. However, just before getting into bed, I had several come to my mind.😳 I keep paper by my bed and so I wrote them down, but left it at that.
This morning I felt a little down and didn't really want to wake up and start going on my day. Perhaps having those lies in my mind right before I go to sleep affects me more than I realize. Plus, it took me quite a while to be able to fall asleep. I guess it shouldn't be too surprising that focusing on lies would create feelings of sadness, a level of depression, and not wanting to move forward. I just didn't think it would be so noticeable that quickly.
If that happens again, I think that I will turn them to truths right away and repeat those truths before going to bed. The difference I feel from having those lies in my mind and then changing them to truths lifts my spirit already.
It felt pretty good watching those lies burn this morning!
Hello Friends!
Yesterday, I wrote down those thoughts about my experience that I have believed for so many years - the lies.
I did set alarms to go off every hour. However, I didn't always have my phone near me. I think I missed one or two, but I still said them when I remembered. All in all I think it went pretty well!
Did you try it out? How did it go for you?
Welcome Friends!
Things talked about in the video:
* Starting my journey to become emotionally resilient because of past experiences and walls (false beliefs) that were built from them.
* My definition of emotional resilience is being able to overcome obstacles, false beliefs and emotional challenges by choosing how I will respond to situations.
* Experience I had in High School that has affected all areas of my life.
* Method I will be using: Tools learned over the years and The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Making and Keeping Covenants, Receiving the Holy Ghost and Enduring Well.
* Outline of my weekly plan:
1. Mondays - Choose a tool or tools (explain what it is and how to use it)
2. Decide how to use the tool(s)
3. Keep track of my efforts
4. Report back here each day to keep me accountable
5. Thursdays - possibly post another video giving more detail describing how things are going
For more detailed information please watch the video.
* Tool: Truths & Lies
1. Get a piece of paper, put a line down the middle from top to bottom
2. Write down the lies that you have believed on the right side of the piece of paper
3. On the left side of each lie write two truths.
4. Tear or cut paper down the line and burn, shred or tear the side with the lies
5. Say truths out loud during the day (use alarm)
