Resolution Review

I read this wonderful article about New Year's Resolutions: The Best Time to Plant a Tree by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It is profoundly helpful, and it could change your life. Read it!

Two quotes that I want to highlight that he says:

"An old proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment.

Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be—not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity."

For a month now, I've been trying to meditate right after I pray when I wake up. This is the morning meditation that I love the most so far. In it are the words, 

"Each day is an opportunity to be your best self."

I believe that, and focusing on that every morning is helping me to view each day as an opportunity to do and become better than I was yesterday. Because, as you may recall, "Every day in every way I'm getting better and better!

Have I done this meditation every day and begun the day centered and peaceful? I'd like to say yes, but the true answer is no. Some days I've started the day with my son crying and myself wishing that I were still asleep. 

But I'm learning that resolutions have to have some give to them, or you may give up at the first sign of failure or struggle.

President Uchdorf also says: "Sometimes the thing that holds us back is fear. We might be afraid that we won’t succeed, that we will succeed, that we might be embarrassed, that success might change us, or that it might change the people we love.

And so we wait. Or give up.

Another thing we need to remember when it comes to setting goals is this: We almost certainly will fail—at least in the short term. But rather than be discouraged, we can be empowered because this understanding removes the pressure of being perfect right now. It acknowledges from the beginning that at one time or another, we may fall short. Knowing this up front takes away much of the surprise and discouragement of failure.

When we approach our goals this way, failure doesn’t have to limit us. Remember, even if we fail to reach our ultimate, desired destination right away, we will have made progress along the road that will lead to it.

And that matters—it means a lot.

Even though we might fall short of our finish line, just continuing the journey will make us greater than we were before."

So here's to becoming our best selves!

My sister Hannah gave us each the opportunity at my parents house on New Years to write resolutions. It was a great idea, and I'm glad I did it, and the goals that I made were well thought out, and I thought they were pretty good. But I also made some of them "set in stone," by putting the words, "no matter what," at the end of the goal. This set me up for failure and discouragement. So I've been doing some tweeking - love that word (You've Got Mail? Anyone? Anyone?)

Tomorrow, I will tell you more about the goals I've set, how they are going, what I've learned so far, and how my goals have changed. So to you faithful readers, if you are out there, stay tuned!