The Essence of Joy

A basic need of every human being is to find and feel joy. I have met so many people who have so many wonderful beautiful things, yet they cannot find happiness! How can this be? They have a beautiful home filled with beautiful things, a beautiful family and the means to go on many fun adventures. Yet they still seem to feel that something is missing. Then you learn of the destitute people of other countries who live in huts with dirt floors and eat simple meager meals day after day- and they are so happy!! How can this phenomenon be?!

I recently read a talk from Elder James E. Faust entitled "Heirs to the Kingdom of God". He touched on this same idea and went on to say "One of the nation's leading pollsters, Richard Wirthlin, has identified through polls an expression of the basic needs of people in the United States. These needs are self-esteem, peace of mind, and personal contentment. I believe these are the needs of God's children everywhere. How can these needs be satisfied? I suggest that behind each of these is the requirement to establish one's own personal identity as the offspring of God. All 3 needs, regardless of ethnic background, culture, or country can be met if we look to the divinity that is within us."

Last Sunday our Relief Society President gave a powerful lesson about the Atonement. She wrote a definition she had found of the Atonement on the board.
"Atonement: The greatest expression of Divine Love."
Then she asked the women to share moments when they had felt their Divine Worth as a child of God, when they had felt this Divine Love. For the next 25 or 30 minutes person after person shared these beautiful moments in their lives. There were a couple of factors that were the same in every story. First, the woman was in a moment of excruciating pain and turmoil. Most of them were associated with the loss of a loved one who was very near and dear to them, but there were other struggles that were shared. Each one seemed to be in a place of incredible anguish, they were really needing answers and comfort. Second, each woman shared how in that moment of terrible pain, a massive comforting feeling- or the spirit- would come and bear witness to their heart and soul that they were loved, and that everything was going to be okay.

When we are struggling in life and don't know if life can ever be okay, if we are finding that we cannot seem to find true joy and happiness in our lives, there is an answer. Every one of us can know this lasting joy and peace in our lives. In fact, these struggles are often instrumental in our discovering the Love of our Father in Heaven, our Divine worth as His child, and the incredible love He has for us. It comes from heaven above- that wonderful understanding of the Divinity that lies within each one of us.

Near the close of his talk Elder Faust concludes:"Each of us, regardless of our nationality, needs to reach down into the innermost recesses of our souls to find the divinity that is deep within us and to earnestly petition the Lord for an endowment of special wisdom and inspiration. Only when we so profoundly reach the depths of our beings can we discover our true identity, our self-worth, and our purpose in life. Only as we seek to be purged of selfishness and of concern for recognition and wealth can we find some sweet relief from the anxieties, hurts, pains, miseries, and concerns of this world.... God can not only help us find a sublime and everlasting joy and contentment, but He will change us so that we can become heirs of the kingdom of God."

God knows us better than we know ourselves, He loves us more than we can fathom. He wants us to be happy- no matter who we are or what mistakes we may have made. He wants us to be filled with joy and peace NOW, and He wants us to live with Him in happiness forever and ever. We are His beloved sons and daughters, and we are His work and His glory. There is nothing more important to us than our happiness and fulfillment. Turn to Him, seek to understand your true identity as His son or daughter by getting to know Him. We can do that as we live His commandments and do as He taught- He teaches us and gives commandments for really this reason- so that we can be happy forever and ever.

Muse for a Moment

Meditation is a way to let the noise settle and see what's inside. Meditation can reintroduce you to the part that's been missing. -Russell Simmons

We have the answers to all of our deepest questions within us. When others ask me for advice, I will give them my advice. I'm a woman, I can't help it! But I make it a point to not be biased in my giving of advice. I usually give them at least a couple of solutions, one of which is always what I would do. But I want them to search within themselves for what they should do- for they are not me and their life will not follow the same patterns as mine. As much as I wish I had the answers for everyone, I know that I do not.

There is someone who has all the answers though. I find my answers originate from my Father in Heaven who knows me better than I know myself. But I find those answers inside. I search, study and ponder. Then the answers come. Talking it out with people can help, but if I find the answers while talking with them, it generally comes from me and not them. Though we often need others' help to see it. There are times when someone receives that inspiration for us because they are in a position to receive that inspiration and we are not, but if we will humble ourselves enough to do what we need to in order to find the answers, they will come to us.  And they must come to us before we are willing to act on that answer.

We all need time, daily, to step away from the chaotic world and meditate. The word muse means to think or meditate in silence. So every day, Muse for a Moment. This is incredibly soothing to the soul, and provides the quietness of mind we need to receive those answers. The Lord commands us to read His word each day. I know from experience that when we do that the problems in our lives will not get out of hand, they won't have a chance to. You see, generally I receive the answers before the questions come when I am doing this daily. If we would but trust the Lord with all of our hearts, and lean not unto our own understanding, acknowledging the Lord in all things, we would find that He has led us to where we need to be to receive those answers. Will we stop for those moments we need each day? It is amazing how it all works out when we do, but it all falls apart when we use those few minutes to finish up something else that is important, just not as important.

There is so much we miss in life when we get so busy with the little things. If we allow ourselves that time every day to step back and see the big picture, we will find the beauty in the little things. And although our lives may be chaotic, we don't have to be chaotic too. I found this brilliant pin on pinterest: Ego Says: "Once everything falls into place I will find peace." Spirit says: "Find peace and everything will fall into place." This is precisely how life works. We will never have it all together, but that doesn't need to keep us from the peace available to us every day.

Makings of a Life

As Humans we Live to Create

To come and make something or change something, to leave something behind us when we go. Some
build, others capture beauty, and some create new life. We all live and thrive in an environment where we can create things. Planting a garden, building a house, decorating a home. Taking the resources we have and combining them and incorporating our own selves into them to help them reach their full potential. It is those things that fulfill the human soul.

We are daily impacted by the creations of other humans, and they by us. Sometimes we may not think we have made any impact on anyone, but however small it may be we impact one another so
much. We have the capability of doing many great things if we but choose to do them. They can be for better or for worse. We read in the news every day of the sad choices that impact others negatively. But we can also find every day stories of the good things done by our fellow persons that make this world that much better.

Each one of us is different, each has different talents and gifts that we can claim and share.

Our Own Life is among our Greatest Creations

Though some may feel they are not doing anything, we all create some things every single day. That is memories. And the sum total of all of those memories is what makes up a life.

Some days we are happy with all that we have accomplished that day and the memories left behind. Other days we may feel we have done very little. And some days we may come away feeling that we completely failed or messed up. Regardless of how our day went, we have created that day in our life by the choices we've made and the things we have done. I find that this perspective really helps me to look at life with new eyes. Too often we see life as this thing that happens to us, but we are ultimately in control of our lives and how we respond to the situations we face, as well as what we do with the
elements we've been given to create our very own life.

Each day is a gift, what we do with that gift is our choice. And the sum of all of these gifts will become the masterpiece of our Life.

 Create Your Life

We have the power to make of our lives what we desire. We have been given our very own canvas of Life, and individual gifts and talents making up our palate of colors and tools. Sometimes it is good to take a step back, and take in the entire canvas. To ponder lessons of the past, live fully in the present, and see the future as it is- filled with so much grand potential.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a beautiful talk that illustrates how we are all blessed with the gift to create, in whatever way that might be. Life is such a glorious gift, let us make the most of each and every day.