Inner Strength

Lately I've been thinking about being an individual. 

There is beauty in the thought that each of us is unique. We are all made up of different attributes, different backgrounds, and different physical appearances. I am the only one that can be me. Sometimes, being unique seems difficult. For each of us, there is always some group that we won't fit in with. There will be times when we feel alone. Times when we don't feel like we have someone that we can confide in. But there is always strength within. We are each children of a Heavenly Father, and He is always with us. He didn't put us on this earth as a unique individual so we could feel alone. He gave us the Holy Ghost, a Savior, and a core inner strength that is made of firm, eternal stuff. For me, it is always important to remember that. I need to remember that I am strong, and have the ability to do hard things. Even if I don't fit in, if I get frustrated with what I'm not, or if I feel a little overwhelmed with life. I can do it. I found a quote that I love in regards to this topic...

So here's to believing in myself. To knowing that I can manage, and I can do it on my own. I have inner strength and by exercising that strength, I can become stronger. 

Remote Meeting Blog Post

So the weekend before the big consulting project was due, I went home. It was fun to be able to see friends and escape the grind of school (sort of) for a weekend. But due to the fact that we did have a big group project, it was actually kind of convenient that we were required to have a group meeting online because I am not sure I would have thought of doing one otherwise.

I have used video chatting before for keeping in touch with friends while away from school or away from home. And it is invaluable as a missionary of course. Those video calls at Christmas and Mother's Day were pure gold. But I learned a lot of their usefulness in the business world through this assignment. I found video calling to be very useful in our group project, especially because I was states away a few days before the due date. Technology makes more things possible, and it is more effective and useful to be able to discuss aspects of the project face-to-face; even if that face-to-face is through a computer screen.

I plan on continuing to work on my video call skills and remembering to keep it in mind as a resource for future school and work assignments.

Answers

This weekend is not only Easter, but also General Conference. Basically a spiritual feast of a weekend and I can't wait!

Another one of my good friends, who is also writing a blog for school down in Southern Utah, posted this awesome thought about General Conference that got me thinking. (http://kelli-lyn.blogspot.com/2015/03/preparing-for-general-conference.html. She is my favorite and I love the thoughts she posts).

If you weren't about following the link and reading her thoughts, in a nutshell it talked about how when we prepare for General Conference, or really any spiritual meeting, we are able to receive answers to questions. Questions of the soul even. How special is that? How many people can say they receive answers to deep life questions they have on a regular basis? Because I have also had the same experience that Kelli has - when I prepare and think of questions and ask Heavenly Father those questions in prayer, I always receive an answer to those questions. For example, today for the Saturday morning session of conference, I had a specific question in mind. And it seemed like every single talk either focused solely on that topic or at least touched on the topic. I received so much revelation. What a huge blessing. It is definitely at testimony to me that Heavenly Father loves us so much and He wants us to have those answers and guidance. The help is there, the light is available, but we have to put forth the effort to take the steps to seek and find that help and light.

So from here on, I want to continue to keep those spiritual habits I gained on my mission. To continue to develop them and be better at them. Because Heavenly Father has a lot more answers for me. I know that as I ask those questions, He will answer. And when I act on those answers and apply them, I will achieve more happiness and peace in my life.

Advice

I went to a ward activity last night where we talked about a lot of marriage advice.

One of the pieces of advice given was to take every piece of advice with a grain of salt. I liked this advice because I'm already finding that there is a lot of information out there, and some of it conflicts. But one piece of advice we received last night that I liked was to practice and find what works for you.

I feel like this advice applies to everyone, no matter their stage in life. We have a lot of information coming in on what we should do, what we should like like, and what is the "right way." But we are all created to be very different, to be unique. We are meant to create and to expand, to discover who we are so we can foster change in our world. As we accept the advice we are given, we can try it out. Advice can be valuable, especially during a time of life where everything is transient and decisions must be made. But the point of the journey is to find out specific path. We can take the road less traveled. We don't have to take the mainstream. Although there are guides we must stay within, Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to fit a cookie-cutter mold. That's the beauty of life.

So here's to mistakes, to new ideas, to fresh starts. We have people to help us and ourselves to figure out who we are with that help. Today is the start of being someone new. 

Power in Positivity

A week ago, I got engaged.

I definitely recommend getting engaged (and subsequently married obviously...I just haven't done that part yet). It's one of those life milestones that is a happy and excited time. You have the whole wedding to plan, friends and family are over the top excited for you, you and your fiancee are over the top excited, and life is good. Sure, there's a lot of planning which can get stressful. But as long as you keep perspective, you can keep that happiness and excitement at the forefront. I have loved being able to share that happiness that I am feeling with those around me. I love that when we have really good news, others can share in that piece of happiness as well. I know that whenever I hear that someone I know is engaged or expecting or something else momentous, I'm excited and happy for them. The world needs more good news. The power of positivity is amazing.

So I've resolved to be more positive. To always be a sharer of good news. And especially to keep that happiness and excitement in my engagement...even though I have a million decisions to make between now and June. But life is good. It's a journey, and traveling well is what it's all about.

Mistakes

Sometimes, we make mistakes.

We're human. We're imperfect, and that means we make mistakes. We make mistakes pretty much ever day- as least I do. And we beat ourselves up for these mistakes. The mistake replays over and over in our heads, and sometimes it seems like a trap that we will never get out of. But that isn't what life is about. Life is a time to make mistakes, but it isn't defined by our mistakes. We are being tested, and there's a huge learning curve. Heavenly Father sent us here to earth to figure things out for ourselves. But He loves us, and He wants us to succeed so He didn't set us here on our own. We have the Holy Ghost to guide us, scriptures to inform us, church leaders to lead us, parents to raise us, and friends and family to help us. And most importantly, we have a Savior to pick us up every single time we make those mistakes. Because mistakes are inevitable- they're part of the learning process. The most important thing is that we learn. That we move on, and that we forgive ourselves. We can't let mistakes define us. We are defined by how we respond to mistakes and how we change because of them.

Mistakes have just been on my mind a lot lately. And I have decided to not let them define me. I will be allow myself to be changed and to become a better person - to become who Heavenly Father wants me to be. Because I know that I'm going to continue making mistakes. Probably daily. But I will also continue to rely on the Atonement for forgiveness and the power to move past those mistakes that I do make. I am in charge of who I become.

Interviews

This week in M Comm we did mock interviews. Personally, I was grateful for the practice in a non-threatening situation.

Because the truth is, I've never gone through a job interview. I've made it to this point in my life with the only experience being nannying. And I wouldn't change that experience for anything - I loved working with the kids and I learned a lot doing so. But my limited experience makes me a little nervous to apply and interview for a "real" job. I was grateful for the tips and methods I learned from the mock interview. I tend to be shy and as a result, building up my resume and what I can do and who I am isn't a strong suit of mine. But doing the mock interview helped me see the difference between showing your best self and being prideful. I can be proud of my accomplishments, and honesty about them will help me and help the interviewer make the best decision for their company.

That's one reason I like M Comm. It contains subjects and material that have real life application. And I feel much more confident about future interviews.