The Book of Life
Every January 1st, I open my Bible and begin again. From Genesis 1 to Revelations 22, “In the beginning,” to “Surely, I come quickly.” It’s a tradition that has begun to shape my life. When I open the Bible, I find stories about people who are searching for meaning and purpose. And people are messy.
Surfing the urge
Urge surfing is new school therapy jargon for a way to manage bad habits or unwanted behaviors. It started as a technique to help drug addicts and it was so wildly successful that it is now used as a distress tolerance skill in therapy models like DBT and emotional management.
Wayfinding
Mothering is like this and more than this. It reminds me of wayfinding. It’s much more than a map and terrain, it’s also a compass and stars and directional pull. I told my oldest daughter who recently got married that being a mother is great. And terrible. Wonderful. And absolutely awful. It’s jaunts through beautiful forests with the sun coming through the trees.
Teach Them to Fly
You will teach them to fly, but they will not fly your flight. You will teach them to dream, but they will not dream your dream. You will teach them to live, but they will not live your life. Nevertheless, in every flight, in every life, in every dream, the print of the way you taught will always remain.
The Promises of Jesus Part II
But studying His promises had led to me a discovery. He promises us forgiveness the very most, but the second most common promise of the Savior in the scriptures is COMPANIONSHIP. To be with us here and now, not in some distant future after death and not long ago in the past.
Faith is letting go
Faith is an unreserved opening of the mind to the truth, whatever it might turn out to be. Faith has no preconceptions; it is a plunge into the unknown. The present phase of human thought and history, almost compels us to face reality with open minds…
The Begging Bowl
I first heard the story about the monks begging bowl during my yoga teacher training years ago. It was during that time I was learning (again) that I did not control what came into my bowl. I do not control the things…
Life Changing Scriptures
D&C 89 and how it changed my life. I discovered that I was not living the word of wisdom at all and that God cared about my health and my well-being. He cared about what I ate and how I felt. I prayed about what to do, what to eat
The Climb
If you know me, you know that I’m fiercely competitive (which is funny because I’m not really exceptional at anything, but hey I try). So I really want to be a better climber. I’ve been working on my pull-ups, and doing a lot of shoulder, chest, and back work lately. But it dawned on me the other day during a tough climb that I cannot get any better without my husband as my climbing partner. Climbing is a joint effort. We lead and belay together.
Slow is Smooth
The best way to increase efficiency, is to slow down. Slowing down helps you flow with emotional balance and avoid the dreaded and exhausting BURN OUT we all go through. This Fourth of July, I am suggesting we take a lesson from the Navy SEALS and taking our time. The best way to move forward quickly, is by taking your time and getting it right.
The Good Samaritan Deep Dive
There is a path that is thousands of years old near the city of Jerusalem, that takes you down to the city of Jericho.
The Lost Coin
The speaker in church was talking about being lost and he said something that has never left me, when talking about the parable of the Lost Coin. “It was not the coins fault that it was lost. It just was.” Sometimes people are like that- it’s not their fault, they are just lost…
Worry Less: Part 2
Time and time again in the scriptures we are commanded not to fear. “Fear not,” we are told. And yet we all do it. For me, it comes in the form of worrying. That worrying leads me to doubt myself…
Worry Less: Part 1
Whether you are stuck in the past, or letting yourself be anxious about something that hasn’t happened yet, you’re gone. You cannot be present and worry at the same time. Worrying about the future takes you away from right now. But right now, here in the present, is where you can do the most good. It’s where you can affect the most change.
Forgiveness
In the last days of his life, the Savior reminds his disciples of the need to forgive. He knew that their road would be difficult after he died. He knew of the trials and hardships they were about to face, but he also knew that they would need a strong spirit of forgiveness in order to feel him near. “Forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26).
Celebrating Holy Week
If you have ever wondered if God loves you, then your answer will be found during Holy Week in a garden, on a hilltop nailed to a cross, and then reconfirmed as you travel with Mary Magdalene to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ on Resurrection Sunday. You will discover that Jesus Christ was indeed who He said He was.
We’ve got this
In Japan there is an ancient tradition of repairing broken pottery with gold; it’s called Kintsugi. The artist takes broken pottery pieces and repairs them back into their original form using gold to seal the cracks. It turns the shattered piece into a beautiful and whole work of art. The new pottery highlights the fractures and transforms simple bowls and plates into amazing keepsakes. Each one is unique. I love that there can be beauty in our brokenness too, if we allow ourselves to be broken and then repaired with the transforming power of becoming more like our Savior. Through this process we become whole, and we change into something better than what we were in the beginning.
Motivation follows Action
When your force yourself to take the steps you need to take you reach your goals – read your scriptures, go on a run, do a simple act of service every day, meditate, skip the cake, be more present for your partner – and you do this consistently, something incredible starts to happen: motivation INCREASES. Being consistent, even when you don’t want to be, takes some will power and practice, but over time the all-important, life-changing equation takes shape:
ACTION = MOTIVATION = MORE MOTIVATION
The Promises of Jesus
For the past few months, I have been searching. Searching for the promises of Jesus. I think I’m about 30% of the way through and I now have 29 categories. Twenty-nine. That’s a lot of promises. I want you to consider for just a moment, what your life would be like, if you lived like the promises that Jesus makes are not only absolutely 100% true, but they were written about you…
About love
We can count on love to make a difference. I wrote a note to myself in my journal a long time ago and I think of it often, it says, if you are failing at something, add charity. There are other gifts, other talents, but eventually they will not be needed, and we will be left with the love that we have been willing to cultivate and give away.