It’s been about a week since I last wrote on this topic and when I last wrote we talked about the importance of being kind to ourselves, forgiving our shortcomings and celebrating the small progress we make. Now that a week has passed and New Year resolutions are perhaps being kept, perhaps long forgotten, I wonder where you are on the happiness scale.
Have you failed to meet your goals and therefore you’re beating yourself up? The long year is stretched out before you and you’re thinking it’s already a lost cause? I’d like to offer you some cheer and some encouragement. Don’t despair! This is a new day and your opportunities for success – and happiness and joy – lay stretched out before you like a fresh fallen field of snow.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church) benefits from living prophets that receive revelation, even today, on our behalf. Mormons believe their day-to-day lives can be improved by “listening to a prophet’s voice” and following the words of God. We have additional scripture, called the Doctrine and Covenants which chronicle some of the revelation that has been received in this, the “last dispensation of the fullness of times.” (Ephesians 1:10.)
The Doctrine and Covenants, shows us a path that we can follow to find the courage the strength to try again. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 we read, “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” Don’t be afraid to ask for help if your own knowledge falls short. Nor deny another the opportunity to learn from you.
“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;” (D&C 88:119.) Discover what is needed to accomplish your goals, and then make sure you have it, can find it, and can use it.
“See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous;” (D&C 88:123.) Don’t begrudge another for the success they enjoy. Love them, and strive to learn from them. You, too, could benefit from their expertise.
Then … get to work. The scriptures go on to say “[c]ease to be idle;” (D&C 88:124.) You have now learned what you need to do, prepared yourself and prepared your attitude so that you will see the good in others and not just despise them for their achievements. This same scripture says “cease to find fault one with another,” but I would like to encourage you to include yourself in that equation. Not only cease to find faults with others, but stop finding fault with yourself as well. I would argue that over and above everything else, that is the single most useful thing that will aid you in reaching your goals.
Not only because you’ll feel happier when you’re not beating yourself up over every little thing, but also because when you are more kind to yourself, you will be more kind to others as well. The Golden Rule reminds us to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and the Book of Mormon confirms that “… all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” (3 Nephi 14:12.) However, I would suggest that oftentimes it’s ourselves we have the most difficult time being kind to, loving, and forgiving.
Apply the Golden Rule to yourself. Do to yourself as you wish others would do to you. Find those who have what you need to learn, then learn it. Prepare yourself to succeed by organizing every thing. Be kind to others and don’t covet what they have or the success they enjoy. Work hard to achieve your goal. Believe in yourself.
Today is a new day. If the year has already fallen short of your expectations, try, try again. It is not too late to begin again.
