Over the past few months I have considered what it takes to find joy in any situation. Especially with new years recently behind us, goals are a big part of life and I believe they are greatly connected with our happiness. As we set a goal it fills us with joyful anticipation of our potential, then as we follow that goal we are filled with the joy of what we have accomplished.
I have tried to come up with a few simple goals that I know would be possible to keep and yet yield great results. We are taught that by small means, great things are brought to pass. Although it can be hard for us to control life and the situations it puts us in, we can find joy in every situation we find ourselves. Even when we cannot control everything that needs to be done in a day, there are five things I believe should be done everyday in order to bring joy.
These five things are simple enough that they can easily be set as attainable goals for anyone, yet they determine our outlook on life. And as we change our outlook on the world, the world changes because the world is merely a perception of what we believe it to be. If you are interested, they include but are not limited to:
1 – Spend fifteen minutes a day studying the Book of Mormon. The study of scripture teaches us how the Lord spoke in ancient times and time spent in them allows us to recognize His voice speaking to us throughout the rest of the day.
2 – Pray, don’t just say prayers, pray. Pray out loud as often as possible especially in personal prayers.
3 – Exercise. Our souls consist of both our Spirits and our Physical bodies (D&C 88:15). The way we treat one affects the other and so increased physical health heightens our ability to feel and recognize promptings coming to our spirits. The exercise does not need to be strenuous, just enough to get your blood and mind going. My mission president told me that every missionary that came to him with mental problems (home sickness, depression, negative behavior, etc…) had neglected their morning exercise. Exercise literally helps us to learn and to be more optimistic. Learn some of the science behind exercise’s effects on our brain at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBSVZdTQmDs.
4 – Meditate. Although it feels like wasting time, we are taught that “we will move faster if we hurry less” (President Spencer W. Kimball). How? See some of Scott’s ideas at http://www.superscotty.com/organizer/meditation.
5 – Record in a Journal
A – Three things we are grateful for that day. I have found that recording what I am grateful for each day fills me with Gratitude and makes it harder to be disappointed with any challenge I am facing in life.
B – One way the Hand of the Lord was evident in our life. Recording how we see the Lord’s hand daily is a challenge form Elder Henry B. Eyring. It allows us to see the hand of the Lord more clearly because we are seeking it. Similarly, the Brother of Jared was able to see the Lord only as he sought to see more. As we record our experiences, things that appear ordinary to those around us will be seen as the miracles that they are. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=record+lords+hand