You Can Do It...

I think what stood out to me most this week was the reminder that you can do it and to never give up. I especially liked the comparison of Nephi and building the boat. It is an excellent reminder that when we dream and go for big things there will always be those who doubt. Often times we are our own worst enemy and we doubt ourselves more than anyone. I loved the reminders through this week to not give up, not doubt, and not worry about what the world thinks.

This week I went to an amazing play called "The Book of Will." It was an amazing play about the last of the King's Men who were Shakespeare's actors and dear friends. After Shakespeare's death there were issues in the acting community with other company's stealing his work and the plays written by Shakespeare slowly disappearing as his men died off. So his dear friends worked to put together his works in a Folio of what we have today. Through the play they portrayed the difficulty of putting together such a program. It was incredible to see the events that fell into place for the great works of Shakespeare to come together.

I have to say that it really hit me as I thought of my own efforts to fulfill my dreams. Sometimes things seem impossible but they are doable with the right people and the right determination. Not to mention the incredible miracles that come with a strong relationship and devotion to our Heavenly Father. We can do incredible things when we rely on a higher power. In the play they had some powerful moments as they felt the impossible of their task but in a powerful moment in the theatre they found a divine connection that gave them the spirit to complete their task.

I hope to apply these lessons and find the re-boot I need to not be dragged down by the doubt and to rely on the Lord to help me through my journey.

Love the Plateaus...

I really enjoyed the readings this week, especially the talk by Gordon B. Hinkley called "Stand True and Faithful." I especially liked the section that talked about staying true to yourself. I feel like that is one of the biggest issues that face our world today. There are few that are truly comfortable in their own skin and proud of the person that they are meant to be. We live in a world of faces, there are different faces for different groups and occasions. We often get so lost in trying to impress the world and forget where our true allegiance lies.

This week we were also instructed to write a book report on the book "Mastery" by
I appreciated this book and the tools and ideas offered for self mastery. I hope to work to apply its principles in my own life.

What stood out to me the most in the book "Mastery" for this particular week was all of the tools for success on the path of mastery. Also, the reminder to learn to love the plateaus that life brings. The book discuses how in different situations and times in life we hit times when we are doing really well and at an incline. Then we have our times where we hit a plateau. We can either give up on our task and call it a loss or find patience, lessons, and keep moving forward for when we hit another rise. I have had many moments of plateaus in my life and it hasn't always been easy to love them. However, I have always found great joy in them later, only when I stick to my course.

One plateau that still rings fresh in my mind was on my mission. I was called to serve in Brazil but ended up waiting for fourteen months in Virginia for a visa. Ultimately, I did make it to Brazil for my final four months. Not without a time of what I thought was a bit of a plateau. I am pleased to say that I feel I made the best of the situation and I found valuable lessons that I would never change.

Now, here I am having been home for just over two years and plateaus are still coming strong. Recently I have been feeling a little low and little stuck in life. Last week I interviewed for a different position to ensure more stability in my current school. Unfortunately, I did not get the position which was a little rough at first. They explained to me that I was too good with where I was to be moved to that different position. I am still worried about what may happen with my job but I have confidence that I will be put where I need be. I hope to love these plateaus and learn from them so that I can always keep moving forward!

"Own due time."

This week as I read through the readings and went through the usual life events of the week I thought a lot about continuing in self mastery and family. I found a lot of meaning in the videos and readings about family and start up. I thought it was especially interesting the comments about if you are single and trying to do a start up to stay single. That made me think of my own efforts and my own single situation. I don't mind too much, but perhaps this is signs of a good time to get things rolling with my ideas for starting Joy2theJourney. However, I do feel that it is vital to have family involved in the process. There is a special power in a family business. 

I have to admit, sometimes it is a difficulty to be 25 in the LDS faith and still single. There is a culture and mentality that tells you that you are somehow breaking the commandments by not being married yet. The advice given in some of the recent videos and readings was a good personal reminder that perhaps I am still single for a reason. Maybe this is a prime time to take for starting my own business. Either way I am called back to the words in 1 Nephi of "his own due time." A sweet reminder that no matter what the situation is, there is a higher plan. I taught a lesson in Relief Society last week about time management. We talked about physical time management and spiritual time management. I came to the realization once again that when we do the things in our power to prepare physical time then things will work out in spiritual time. Things will work out the way they are supposed to when we are doing our part. Often times the paths that come our way are not what we expect but when we are doing our part they are just what we need. 

I do think that family will ultimately be a main focus in my Joy2theJourney efforts but for now I need a little more personal mastery. I also need to use the networking and family I have now to keep moving forward.  

Find your center...

So this week was a week of mastery... I also happened to watch one of my favorite movies "The Guardians." In that movie those characters we always thought fictional are brought to new light as guardians of all the worlds children. In the Movie Jack Frost is called to be a guardian and is hesitant and rejects the idea at first. However, through the duration of the movie he finds himself and his call, or as Santa puts it his "center."

I really love that thought and the concept behind it. I feel like this is a good example of "Mastery" as was part of the focus in class this week. As we journey along the path of mastery, we journey on the path to finding our "center." It is not an easy path but the difficulty is well worth the effort. When we find our "center" we find our purpose which helps lead to our mission. In the movie Jack Frost finds that his is fun, I often feel that I am far from total discovery of my center, but I would say that I want my center to be JOY! I love joy and I have a deep desire to bring joy to the world, mostly through service and education. My path is only beginning but bringing joy to others is how I feel closer to that abundant life that we read about in the book "The Ministry of Business." 

Along with the continuation of self discovery I also found great wealth in the revelation I received about the need to involve other in my dreams and work. I have fears of sharing the things I want to do, I fear sharing about Joy2theJourney. I fear being rejected, I fear that they will judge my ideas and my dreams. I need to find humility in my dreams, I need to put away the pride of what the world thinks and focus on my Heavenly Father and what I feel is my call. I also need to involve others in order to move forward. I need to learn from them and out away the pride. 

I also really enjoyed the video of the hero's journey. I loved the feeling and inspirations I felt as I seek the desire to have a meaningful life. I love the quote about living every moment like it matters. He even discussed involving others, which has been a big awe-ha recently. Then there were the inspired three questions:

Have I contributed something meaningful? 

Was I a good person?

Who did I love and who loved me?

I want to make goals to make these questions worthwhile in my life and the lives of those around me. I am hope to start a journal soon to see where I stand with those questions at this point in my life. 

Last thing that really hit me was the challenge to ask those around me what I am an expert at? The results thus far were very humbling and very loving. I want to keep asking and see what else I can find. I will ask those I love what I do better than anyone else in the world? 

There were so many other great things in that video that I am hoping to apply in my life... What a great week as the journey continues to find my center!