31 Days to Peace Index

I am so excited to share with you some small and simple ways to peace. Because isn't this what we all need so desperately in this world?

You can find a link to each of the 31 days' posts below so come here anytime you need to access all 31 days or a find a specific post.

Day 1: Peace in Becoming like Christ
Day 2: Finding You.
Day 3: Define your Success
Day 4: Believe.
Day 5: Connect to Heaven.
Day 6: Connect with You.
Day 7: Connect to Family.
Day 8: Have a Gray Day
Day 9: A Positive Lens Invites Light
Day 10: Have Fun
Day 11: To Serve
Day 12: Envision
Day 13: Create Your Rhythm
Day 14: Window to my Rhythm
Day 15: Book Ends to Your Day
Day 16: Inner Peace during Unrest
Day 17: Temple Peace
Day 18: Peace in the Present
Day 19: The Stained Glass Window
Day 20: Journaling Peace
Day 21: Best Day of Your Life
Day 22: Nourishing Food
Day 23: Music
Day 24: Be Still
Day 25: Out in Nature
Day 26: What Can I Give?
Day 27: Find Your Pond.
Day 28: Meditation
Day 29: Stand United
Day 30: A Forest of Burning Bushes
Day 31: Play Your Part.

Writing in the Stillness.

This is a brand-new blank space all ready for me to fill with my thoughts and ideas. My sole purpose in creating this space is to share what's in my heart. In this ever-darkening world, a ray of goodness is what we need. {#sharegoodness}

To back-up a bit, I have always been a writer. Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil in my hand, I have been writing. One of my earliest memories is of sitting on the kitchen floor while my parents talked at the table. I picked up an old notebook and pen and began making squiggles across the lined paper. I didn't stop until I had filled the entire page with what I thought was beautiful cursive. I excitedly exclaimed to my parents, "Look! I can write!" And a writer was born.

The other day I sifted through old boxes of childhood belongings. Among the trophies, teddy bears, and music boxes, I found a manilla envelope in which my mother had carefully placed many of my hand-written, fully-illustrated stories. I gathered my children around me to read them the silly stories. Memories flooded my mind.

I can't count the books and stories and poems I created over the years. I entered a writing contest in 2nd or 3rd grade for the "best story to be turned into a movie." I wrote a fantasy complete with a trap door that led to a magical world and unicorns. And even though I never heard anything more from the contest, I kept writing. In 5th grade I submitted a poem about chickadees to a bird newspaper. I was elated when it was published! My reward was the edition of the newspaper where my poem was found. And even though I detested the smell and feel of newspaper, I wrapped it up and saved it in my box.

As a sophomore I submitted an essay about my great-great-great-great grandfather to a statewide essay contest. And when my grandmother opened the letter and read it to me over the phone (since I was living overseas at the time), I honestly couldn't believe I had won! The prize for this contest was $500 which I placed in a savings account. (Several years later, I used the money to buy my husband's wedding ring).

Yes, I have always been a writer. But somewhere along the line, I stopped writing. Not entirely, of course. My bottom dresser drawer continued filling up with various journals, and I kept up on a family blog regularly. But my creative writing, the writing of poetry and insights, mostly came to a standstill.

For a while I kept up on a personal blog that can be found here, but even that space was eventually set aside with three small children and the demands of being a homemaker, a photographer, and an active member in my church.

I told myself that someday I would write again. Maybe when all my children left the house and I had more time. But every time I told myself this excuse, I felt a pit in my stomach and everything kind of churned around in my heart. Writing wasn't a necessity, I continued. Just a hobby that could be put aside for half a lifetime.

But last week, something changed. And over the period of several days, a myriad of experiences led me to feel down deep in my soul, that I can't stop being a writer just because I'm busy. I wrote the following in my journal:

"When did you stop believing that all the magic you'll ever need is right inside of you? When did you start believing that all the experts know better than you? When did you stop composing poetry and start compiling notes? The greatest treasures you could ever write about are buried deep within your soul. All you have to do is dig for the jewels."

There is a message the Lord needs to share through me. There is something I need to share with the world. And even though I'm scared and have to battle through the discouragement that no one will ever even find these words, I will press on. Because if I can reach somebody, somewhere and offer them some little bit of encouragement and hope in this broken world, then my part will be worth it.

And while the entire scope of this blog is still somewhat hazy, I have been compelled to start now. And even though I do not know how this project will evolve or what it will entail, I do know one thing. My whole aim and desire that is burning brightly within is to serve. To lift. To inspire. To encourage. To teach the small things I have learned that may bless your life. I may be a small and simple girl, but the Lord can work through me to accomplish great purposes. (See Alma 37:6) Of this I know.

And so in the quiet of my peaceful bedroom seated at my desk, I begin today.

To write in the stillness.

{Let's Bring it Home Together: Do you have a brightly-lit passion that has been dimmed over time as you've repeatedly set it aside for a "better time?" If it's too unfathomable for you to pick it up yet, all you need to do for now is identify your passion. And be aware that it's still there for you.}

Good News!

I'm back! It has seemed like I've been missing in action on this blog for so long...

But lately, I've been feeling the need to write and share what's in my heart. Not just for a day or a month, but forever. I've always been a writer at heart, and while I have regularly updated my family blog for 6 years, this one has been neglected as of late. 

"Quest for Happiness" gave me a focus for several years--a theme to think and write about. But I've changed in the process and have outgrown this special space here. 

So, next week I will have my new website up and running. When that day comes, I will be sure to post here and give you the link. It will be a wonderful day!!

Until then...

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Love,

Jamie

Faith vs. Worry

photo credit via pinterest

Remember this. I need to remember this. Worry is on the adversary's side of the line not the Savior's. So for today, I choose not to worry. I choose faith. Because faith in him is what will produce amazing results--NOT worry.

Why is it we struggle so often with worry? There's no need. Like my Mom always used to say to say to me growing up: "Worry is like a rocking chair: it uses up a lot of energy, but gets you nowhere." (or something like that).

The Savior has overcome the world. And He lives to help us through every trial we face. Why not choose to push aside the worry trap we so easily fall into, and choose instead the freedom of faith in Jesus Christ? He will help us. And everything will work out for our ultimate good. Of this I know.

Your Happy Challenge for today is to try it and see for yourself. Every single time a worry crosses your mind today, say, "Fear/worry, you do not serve me. I am filled with too much faith and light for you to bother me. You go have a nice day!" And then replace with a scripture or quote that comforts your soul. One of my favorites is: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

What scriptures or quotes do you use? What is your experience of pushing out worry and filling your mind with faith?

Accept.

When happiness drifts just out of reach, there is always a culprit.  I identified one the other day.

Comparing.

Nothing new.  Or fancy.  Nothing novel or earth-shattering.  Just plain-old-caught-up-in-the-cycle-of-feeling-sorry-for-yourself-comparing.

And it's really hard to stop that downward spiral once it's started.

The trick is to flood those comparisons with a torrent of acceptances.  And while in theory, it's a revolutionary idea, I'm still working on the execution of something so simplistically simple.

In truth, we are all flawed and yet we all have glowing strengths as well.  So, instead of hi-jacking happiness with the comparison culprit, we need to accept ourselves just as we are.

Isn't that what our Father in Heaven does for us?  He accepts and loves us, and yet at the same time, inspires us onward, upward, and in a steady course set for the higher path?

So, on a notecard [which is absolutely the handiest and most essential note-taking tool in my opinion {but you may also substitute any scratch paper, sticky note, journal, or drawing pad...}] list out your strengths.  It might help to get a trusted loved one's opinion about what your core strengths are, seeing as we sometimes have a hard time identifying just what they are.

A Few from my List:
*Love of my Savior, the gospel, and all things spiritual
*Sincere desire to do and be good
*Forever Analytical, and prone to pondering and deep thinking
*Enthusiastic loving of my little children
*Brimming with creativity and passion for a host of hobbies/talents
*Love of reading and all good and inspiring books
*Photography

Next, take a second notecard and record a list of what you can accept about yourself.  This isn't an excuse list for our favorite sins or bad habits.  It's an honest look at who we are, and a sigh of relief for keeping that pesky perfectionism in check.  It doesn't mean we can't change or progress; it's simply way of taking a deep breath, saying, "This is who I am, and that's okay for now."  In all reality, every time I give myself permission to love myself as I am, I ALWAYS automatically want to try harder to be better.  And this is the beauty of acceptance.

A Few from my List:
~I accept that I don't (and can't) know everything about the future and that's okay.  Faith is key here.
~I accept that I am unconfident in just about everything...it's okay that I have a hard time in this area.  I will learn someday how to master this area because I am seeking.
~I accept that I am slow to decorate...The empty spaces overwhelm me, but I need to accept that I need time to find all the right pieces for all the right places.
~I accept my cooking...it's small and simple right now.  Everything is always homemade and healthy (and I think delicious)---but it's hardly a candidate for a table on the cover of Taste of Home.  And that's okay.  I have little ones now and so simplicity is the essence of everything we embrace.  It's all about Comfort Food and comforting hearts.
~I accept that I don't know yet if I'll have a large or a smallish family.  My physical, emotional, and financial capacity is yet to be determined and I'm okay with living life with my three little ones as if our family is complete.  And if the feeling comes that another little one needs to join us, I'll know.
~I accept that I have some health problems and probably always will.

Will you accept the challenge to accept yourself?

Keep your cards and read over them when you're happy, and even more when that comparison culprit comes sneaking around your quiet corners.

Feel the love of a loving Father, and allow yourself to love yourself.

A Friend to Help in our Happiness Quest

Today I wish to record the words of someone much wiser than me, who talks about happiness by following the guidance of the Spirit in a way I could only dream of.  From a past prophet who was born nearly 100 years ago, President Lorenzo Snow gives us one of the keys to happiness.....

"There is a way by which persons can keep their consciences clear before God and man, and that is to preserve within them the Spirit of God, which is the spirit of revelation to every man and woman.  It will reveal to them, even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them.  We should try to learn the nature of this Spirit, that we may understand its suggestions, and then we will always be able to do right.  This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint.  We know that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives."

"From the time we receive the Gospel, go down into the waters of baptism and have hands laid upon us afterwards for the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have a friend, if we do not drive it from us by doing wrong.  That friend is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which partakes of the things of God and shows them unto us.  This is a grand means that the Lord has provided for us, that we may know the light, and not be groveling continually in the dark." 

 "The Lord has established certain constitutional desires and feelings in our bosoms, and it is so with all mankind, with the whole human family.  There are implanted and interwoven in their constitutions certain desires and capacities for enjoyment, desires for certain things that are in their nature calculated to promote our peace and well-being, that answer their feelings and promote their happiness, but how to obtain the gratification of those capacities and desires the world does not know nor understand, but he Lord has seen fit to put us in the channel and in the way of understanding those things by being faithful and walking in the light of the Holy Spirit and receiving truth."

 "It is the privilege of the Latter-day Saints to live in the Gospel in such a way that they will feel approved of God.  Of course, we do things sometimes that we are ashamed of when we come to a consider them, but we repent of them in our hearts and determine to do them no more.  That is all the Lord asks of us; and men and women who so live, live without condemnation.  They have righteousness and joy in the Holy Ghost."

"If we keep the light of the Spirit within us, we can so walk in the gospel that we can measurably enjoy peace and happiness in this world; and while we are traveling onward, striving for peace and happiness that lies in our path, in the distance, we shall have a peace of mind that none can enjoy but those who are filled with the Holy Spirit."

"We ought to understand--and I presume that we do generally--that the work which we have come into this life to perform cannot be done to the glory of God or to the satisfaction of ourselves merely by our own natural intelligence.  We are dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord to aid us and to manifest to us from time to time what is necessary for us to accomplish under the peculiar circumstances that may surround us." 

 "We should so live that we shall know that our course of life is acceptable to God.  We should understand the voice and whisperings of the Holy Spirit...No professing Latter-day Satin can enjoy any great degree of happiness unless he thus lives, and thus places himself under divine guidance."

"Make up your minds to live humbly and in such a way that you will always have the Spirit of the Lord to be your friend, to make such suggestions to you from time to time as shall be needed under the peculiar circumstances in which you may be placed..."

"We should endeavor, as far as possible, to forget all worldly matters which grieve and vex us, and fix our minds upon the Lord, having a sufficiency of His Holy Spirit that we may be enabled to receive such knowledge and suggestions as will help us in our onward path." 

Possible Perfection.

Last night I think my perfectionism was completely cured.  Finally after years and years, an answer came in the form of something small and simple--a text from my Dad.  Here is part of the text:

"I am glad you had such a good weekend princess :).  I love your family so much, and I am so very proud of you and everything you are and have become.  Thank you for being so good to your children.  You are the most wonderful mother, and please leave room for a tough day now and then because you know it happens.  I have learned that the perfect mother is not perfect in and of herself and she will even make mistakes from day to day, but her love is perfect, and that is what makes a mother perfect.  You are a perfect mother and daughter and I cherish the relationship that we have always shared. Hope your night is wonderful. Love, Dad :)"

And that's it.  A magic secret that has somehow been hiding from me all these years.  I can rest now knowing that I am perfect in one thing and someday, perhaps, (after many aeons of time and through my Savior's help) I can be perfect in all things.

Love for our families.  We can all be perfect in this one thing.

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