Goal Setting Part 3

Today's steps for goal setting

are important, but I just

have to say that I always

have to remind myself 

not to get too hung up on them.

You'll see why:0)

Step 4

What is one thing I want to cultivate in the year ahead?

So I have had this answer since around Thanksgiving.

I want to cultivate JOY this year.

Last year was trying for me,

and I spent a good part of the year

just surviving and the other part

of the year trying to rise

up out of the darkness

I had found myself in.

I've done a lot of research

that I'll share in another post,

but JOY for me also has

to do with the connections

I have with other people.

So I also want to cultivate connections

with my husband, my daughter,

my family and my friends.

Step 5

Here's where I get to remember not 

to get hung up. 

It's okay to stop and 

feel the yucky feelings.

We need to feel those things,

but don't pack a bag and stay there.

I am an imperfect person.

I firmly believe that all the

hard things that happen to us

and all the mistakes we make

are learning opportunities.

(Wow, I needed that reminder today!)

What are the challenges you experienced in 2016?

-Depression. I only recently started to talk about this,

but the beginning of 2016 was full of this.

-I stressed out about my husband's job.

-I spent too much time watching TV and

being on my phone and social media.

-I didn't treat my body as the temple it is.

What lessons did you learn from the challenges?

Here are some lessons I've learned:

Now that I'm past all those challenges

I have been able to see the blessings in them.

God is good.

He has blessed me with

the strength I needed

through His Son,

My Savior.

How grateful I am!

Goal Setting Part 2

The last couple of weeks

I've been trying to 

work on finding a balance

that works better for my body

and working on my goals, 

so writing hasn't been a

recent priority for me,

but I'm back and ready to

share more of my goal setting.

Remember you can find more

tips and examples here

To read the first part of

my goal setting click here.

Step 3

 What good things happened in 2016?

When people think about writing goals,

they usually think about the future,

but I've found that looking back 

can help me uncover goals 

that are more meaningful to me.

Here are three good things from my 2016:

-I'm alive! Read that story here

-Starting Uncovering Strength and finishing my first 100 Day Project

-Being invited to Limitless

What lessons did you learn from the good things?

The number one thing that I learned/remembered again this last year is that Christ is the only way to find the strength I need. I can try all I want to do it myself (and I have), but in the end even my very best isn't enough.  I learned to trust in the Lord and rely on His goodness, His grace, His mercy. I learned that I am needed.  I have a message that He needs me to share. The Word of God is so important to study every day. It gave me strength. It gave me peace. It gave me answers. I get to trust myself to find the answers that I need. It was a year full of learning and remember to whom I should turn not just in my darkest hours, but always. He is the only way I found the strength to do all I did.

That's all I've got for tonight.

Until next time!

Let's Get Going 2017!

In the month leading up to the end of 2016, I saw so many posts on facebook about how horrible 2016 was to people. I am pleased to say that 2016 was actually a good year for me! Yes it started out hard (read that story here), but in the end I was blessed with the strength to get through the hard times and trust the God's got a plan for me and he'll help me find it.

I started off with my word of the year being "simplify," but it never felt quite right. By April I had picked myself up and climbed out of the dark hole I had stepped into and realized that my new word for the year needed to be "Arise." Arise I did! Although still having hard days, I pushed forward with faith, uncovering strength along the way, and accomplished some pretty great things!

Every month I had a plan and worked little by little to accomplish big things! I wrote more on my blog this year than ever before with the 100 Day Project. I started writing a book again. I worked on going through boxes and downsizing a lot of my stuff. I kept my daughter alive. I kept myself alive. I cultivated relationships and reconnected with old friends. I worked on being more grateful for all I have. I had a huge belief breakthrough and now know that I am precious! 

I have a feeling that 2017 is going to be an amazing year as well! Every year for the past 4 years I have had an amazing tool called Powersheets to plan and work on my goals.  Last year was amazing as I completed 9 out of 10 goals from the beginning of the year and made progress on the last goal. This is such cause to celebrate for me! It has been my pattern in the past to set goals and not really accomplish them, but as I've been using the Powersheets, I've been able to uncover goals that really matter to me and do them! 

Guess what? You don't need Powersheets to do this. You can choose to make what matters happen anytime. Lara Casey the creator of Powersheets has a five part blog series that goes through some goal-setting steps that can help you uncover goals that matter to you. You can find them here. I'm going to be sharing my answers to the different steps over the next week or two.  You can do it too! Grab a pen, pencil or other writing utensil and a piece of paper (yes an old bill envelope works too!) and let's get uncovering some meaningful goals!

Step 1: How are you?

I love this step because it's not just a "How are you?" from someone who is just saying it and not listening.  This is a "How are you really doing, friend?" What are you worried about? Scared about? What to do's are taking up space in your head and heart. What are you excited about? Hopeful about? What do you want? Download your thoughts onto paper. Get them out of your head so you can have a clear mind and heart while doing this process.

I am really tired right now. I already am tired from medication I take, but then add having a cold and not being able to sleep very well. I feel exhausted most of the time. I worry that I'm not doing enough in most areas of my life and that I'll give in to the exhaustion every day and do nothing but lay around and watch Netflix. I worry about not being good enough. I love that I have been able to learn about belief breakthrough the last five years, so I can work on my limiting beliefs about myself and the world and start believing in myself and creating new limitless beliefs! I'm hopeful that I am getting started and that I can work step by little step to create amazing things in my life! I want to get busy setting up new routines in my life so I can get back on track with my health and my environment. I feel so excited for the things I have planned this year! It's going to be amazing!

Also, rate each of these areas of your life 1 to 10. One being that you are not satisfied with it and 10 being you are very satisfied and happy with that area. My answers follow each area.

-Health -5- I haven't been treating my body very well since I had L, but I am healthy as in I'm not sick all the time.

-Friends -8- 2016 was a great year for me in reconnecting with old friends and having fun with my friends!

-Family (including your significant other) -8- I have the most amazing family.  We love and support each other. I want to spend more time building up my family members this year.

-Finances -6- I worry about this a lot.  I've definitely got some limiting beliefs I'd like to breakthrough this year.

-Spiritual -8- Immersing myself in the Word of God this last year has been an awe inspiring experience this last year.  I also worked on making my prayers more meaningful.  It has totally been an amazing experience.  This year I want to work on better serving others and being an example of the believers. 

-Work -6- My job as a mom is going pretty well.  L is learning and growing.  I want to start working on putting down my phone and turning off the television so I can spend quality time with her.

-Recreation -8- This has also been fun the last year.  We've been able to do so many things that we love to do this year. I'm determined to still do things even though we've got a child now.

-Environment -7- I started at the end of the year with a goal of getting some cleaning routines going in our house.  It went well until I got busy during the holidays and then I got out of the habits I had sort of created.  This is one of the things I'm planning on getting back to as a clean home helps us all be happier and welcomes the Spirit into our home.

Step 2: What are you chasing?

Watch this video. Chasing Perfect

I definitely struggle with chasing perfect. I want my day to perfectly follow my plan and I get everything done that I "should" do. Enter my toddler and most days I don't get much done...I want to have things be just perfectly like I want them.  I want to have complete control so things go perfectly. But it's just like the ladies in the video say, it's exhausting. You never feel like enough. I struggle with this almost daily, but I am lucky to have the knowledge of a Redeemer.  I know that when I'm not perfect and I make mistakes, I can repent.  I like to remind myself that I am always in my perfect growth process and that usually means my life is messy and imperfect, but it is helping me to learn and grow and become what I was created to be!

I, Nephi: Scripture Study Part 1

Gratitude

Today I'd just like to tell you how

grateful I am for the scriptures

and other words of the prophets.

I know that as we take 

time to read and study

them daily that we can learn

and grow and find answers

to any questions we may have!

The Word and On My Heart

My first pen almost made it all the way through 1 Nephi!

If you've been following me here for a while,

you probably remember back this spring

when I decided that I was going to do 

something a little different in

my study of the scriptures.

I had gotten stuck in my studies

because I was feeling like it had to 

look a certain way, but I made the 

choice to do something that felt

like it would work for me.

I decided to copy down the

Book of Mormon as I read it.

I also used this study guide,

which I've loved!

So my typical study session

would start with me copying down 

verses or chapters of scripture

that went together in the study guide.

Then I would study that section of scripture

and fill out/doodle about what I was learning.

It has been a very slow process,

but I have learned so much!

Also, I've read the Book of Mormon

many times throughout my life.

This time I felt like I got so

much more out of my studies.

I'm just getting started with 2 Nephi,

and I'd like to share with you

three things I learned/was reminded of

while doing my study of 1 Nephi.

First:

1 Nephi 3:7

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi,

said unto my father: I will go and 

do the things which the Lord hath

commanded, for I know that he

given no commandments unto

the children of men, save he

shall prepare a way for them

that they may accomplish the

thing which he commandeth them."

This scripture is probably one of the

most known scriptures in 

the Church of Jesus Christ of 

Latter-day Saints.

I've read it and memorized it

many, many times,

but somehow I don't remember

something very interesting

in 1 Nephi.

Nephi actually says in many other

verses that if the Lord gives us

a commandment He'll have

a way prepared for us to 

accomplish it.

Thinking back on my life,

I know that I've definitely 

experienced this.

Sometimes what I was being asked

to do was not easy.

Sometimes I didn't know how 

I was going to do it.

But I chose to press on and

trust that Heavenly Father had

a way for me to accomplish it.

In the end I think one of the

biggest things I learned was

that it wasn't usually about 

what I accomplished in the

end; it was about what I learned

in the doing of it.

It's about the journey,

not necessarily about

where I was going.

Second:

1 Nephi 15:11

"Do ye not remember the things

which the Lord hath said?--If

ye will not harden your hearts,

and ask me in faith, believing

that ye shall receive, with

diligence in keeping my 

commandments, surely these

things shall be made known unto you."

Have you ever been like me

and wanted answers, but

got tired of asking and not

getting answers?

I hope I'm not the only one.

I loved this verse of scripture

because it gave me a formula

for receiving answers from the Lord:

Faith+Believe+Diligence=Answers

Diligence in keeping the commandments is

a huge part of receiving answers!

Back in the days of stage coaches

there was a stage coach named Diligence.

It was a high speed non-stopping coach.

Diligence is constant and earnest effort

to accomplish something.

Sometimes while waiting for answers

I get impatient and forget to be diligent.

But when I return to being constant and

earnest and NON-STOPPING

in keeping the commandments,

I receive the answers that I'm looking for

or I realize that the answers have come,

just not in the way I expected the to come.

Third:

1 Nephi 16:28-29

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi,

beheld the pointers which were

in the ball, that they did work according

to the faith and diligence and

 heed which we did give unto them.

And there was also written upon 

them a new writing, which was 

plain to be read, which did give us 

understanding concerning the ways 

of the Lord; and it was written 

and changed from time to time, 

 according to the faith and diligence 

and heed which we gave unto it.  

And thus we see that by small means 

the Lord can bring about great things."

I love this last scripture for so many reasons!

First we get another formula for receiving answers:

Faith+Diligence+Heed=Answers from Our Liahonas

First I believe that we each have

different although similar things

that are our personal Liahonas.

They are the things that point

us where the Lord would like us

to go and things that teach 

us of the Lord's ways and commandments.

Some of my own personal Liahonas are

-my scriptures

-my Patriarchal Blessing

-Prophets and Apostles

-General Conference

-Priesthood leaders

-Church leaders and teachers

-the Holy Ghost.

Each of these don't really help me find

answers unless I have faith in God,  

give heed to/do/live what I learn,

and be diligent in keeping

the commandments of God.

The next thing I love about this scripture

is when it talks about how the writing

on the pointers was changed from time to time.

I definitely find that when I'm studying 

the same verse for the umpteenth time

what I learn from it can be different

than what I learned the last time I studied it.

I think that's one of the best things

about studying the scriptures!

The last thing I love about this scripture

(okay not the last thing, but the last thing I'm going to share:0)

is when it says, "And thus we see that by small means

the Lord can bring about great things."

It's a good reminder to me that even though

I might feel small in the big old world,

the Lord can use me to bring about

great things!

I'm excited about all that I will

continue to learn on my scripture

studying journey!

Remember that your scripture

study can look however it works

for you. Don't compare it to

what other people do.

Just find what works for you

and do it. 

You'll learn so much

more than you can 

possibly imagine!

Cultivate Joy

I'm sitting here full of so many

things I'd like to share with you,

but I'm scared too.

It's been a month since I last

wrote here on this space.

My last post was hard to share.

I think that has something

to do with me not posting

since that day.

But today!

Today as I sit here in 

my living room typing these

words, I can see my reflection

in the computer screen.

I'm wearing my Fight Like Girls shirt.

The boxing glove is cheering me on.

Inviting me to continue to share.

Gratitude!

First of all, gratitude!

I have so much to be grateful for!

Family

My husband has a job.

L

MHG

A warm house to live in

Diet Coke

Scriptures

Prophets and Apostles

Prayer

Answers to prayer

...And so much more!

The Word

Psalm 16:8,11

"I have set the Lord always before me: 

because he is at my right hand, 

I shall not be moved...

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: 

in thy presence is fulness of joy;..."

On My Heart

These came this past week:

My 2017 Powersheets and Simplified Planner.

Before when I've gotten them,

it's been beyond exciting,

and I've jumped right in to using them.

This year I noticed that I didn't

feel that excitement and joy

that I usually do when they come.

This along with conversations

with several people have 

helped me see that I get to

cultivate more joy in my life.

So I've started researching "Joy"

in the scriptures and other

LDS church resources.

I've learned so much about joy,

and I'm only just getting started!

The one talk that I found that 

summarizes what I've learned

was by President Russell M. Nelson

in October 2016 General Conference.

It is entitled "Joy and Spiritual Survival."

Here are a few things I've found that 

can help me cultivate joy in my life:

-Look to the Savior in every thought

-Repent and use the Atonement

-Focus on the Plan of Salvation

-Give thanks

-Keep my covenants

-Choose Heavenly Father as my God

-Nurture my spouse

-Guide my children

-Forgive

-Ask for forgiveness

-Choose celestial laws

-Help others come to Christ

So in an effort to cultivate more joy

in my life, I am going to start

now instead of waiting for the new year

on doing some of these things.

I'm going to work on living a more

Christ-centered life!

I will also be working through the prep work

in my 2017 Powersheets in December.

If you would like to order some Powersheets,

I would love to have some friends to do 

them with for some accountability.

Click here to order yours and use the code 

"flourishonpurpose" for 10% off.

Hurry because they are going fast!

I'll be sharing as I complete them

on my stories on Instagram.

Follow me: @uncoveringstrength

The Day I Chose (Again) to Live

It happened one day

 in late February.

I had just dropped L off 

at the babysitter's house and was making 

my way the few short miles to work.
I was thinking about how
I was a horrible mother.
I was a bad wife.
I was a bad teacher.
I wasn't attractive.
I just plain wasn't good enough.

Then a thought hit me,

"You know you could speed up

really fast and run your car into a phone pole.
You wouldn't survive.

Your family would help MHG 

take care of L and 

everyone would be better off

without you around."

My body was tensed and ready to do it.
I pushed on the gas pedal
and started speeding up.

It was in that split second,

that I really truly got scared

and realized how bad my depression

had really gotten.

There had been a times before when

I had thought about killing myself,

but it had never gone this far.
I slowed down my car and
started praying for some strength.

This realization that my depression
was worse than ever was an
important moment for me.
It was the moment I chose
again to live.
It was the moment I realized
I get to take time
to figure out what was
going on with me
and take the steps I needed
to take to help myself
feel better mentally, physically,
and spiritually.
Click here to read
the post I wrote at the
beginning of this journey.

I felt hopeful for a few weeks
following that day,
and then the depression
hit me full force again.
I was so frustrated with myself.
I knew the tools I needed
to help get me through this,
but for some reason,
I just couldn't do them.
Or if by some miracle I did
try to do them, I didn't feel
like they were helping much.

I felt like God wasn't listening.
I had moments where
I was so frustrated
that God wasn't answering
my prayers and giving me relief.
I had moments when I would
get a little answer to my prayers
and just be so thankful.

It took months to feel like
I was doing better most of the time,
and I still have days
when I'm not doing well,
and I sit around my house
and don't do anything.

If I could share one message with
you that I have learned this year,
it is that sometimes we get to
just be in the season God has us in.
We just get to learn to move through it,
let it happen, and do our best
even though it might feel useless.
We get to have faith that
God has a reason for letting
us remain in this season.
As we press forward in faith
even when we don't feel like
we're getting any answers,
we will be given the strength
we need to endure.

So no matter what season you are in--
be it depression, waiting, beginning, ending, etc.--
remember to have faith.
I have realized
that if I have hope
and faith that I will be
given what I need in my season.
Sometimes what I need is a way
through the season.
Sometimes what I need is to stay
in that season and learn more
so I can be strengthened for
something new that is coming.

Even when I don't feel like God is listening,
I choose to keep my covenants
and have faith
because when I'm ready,
I'll find what I've been looking for.
What God has been trying to show me.

*****************

At the beginning of October
Heavenly Father wrote it on my
heart that I needed to share this with you.
I dreaded it.
So I didn't write.
I could still hear Heavenly Father
telling me to share,
but I continued to push it away.
Then two weeks ago,
I finally did it.
I sat down and wrote
the beginning of this post.
I cried remembering.
I couldn't bring myself to finish.
But Heavenly Father was still
asking me to finish.

I started to dig deep last week.
Why was this so hard for me to share?
I was talking to a friend about
my path of depression this year
and realized something.
I've always had a hard time being vulnerable.
I felt ashamed for what had happened.
I've felt like what has happened to me
is inconsequential compared to what
 other people have gone through.
I didn't believe
my depression was as bad as
other people have experienced.
BUT
I realized something as I talked to my friend.
Everyone's story of depression
is different.
It is never the same.
There is no "worse" or
"not as bad."
There is just different.
It felt so freeing to realize this.

My path is my own,
but maybe someone is experiencing
something similar.
Maybe I can help one person
by sharing.
So here I am finally finishing this post.
I pray as I send it out into the world
that it will find the people who need it.

God's love is eternal!
I'm so thankful for the
sacrifice of my Savior.
He has been with me every
step of the way on my path,
especially when I couldn't
feel him there.
He has wept with me.
He has wrapped me in His loving arms.
I'm thankful for the love of my
friends and family.
I never told any of them how
bad my depression really was,
but they are always there with
love and support.
I'm so thankful for my
amazing husband
and my sweet little L.
They are the daily sunshine
in my life.
They make me laugh and smile.
I'm so thankful for my
wonderful, beautiful life!

October Goals

Gratitude

I am so thankful for my 

Powersheets right now.

They help me to figure

out what matters

and what I really want

to focus on with my goals!

The Word

Elder Lynn G. Robbins, Oct. 2016 General Conference

"The way you see a child is the way you treat them and the way you treat them is what they become."

October Goals

I'm a little late posting these,

but here they are:

Monthly

-Write Uncovering Strength ebook

-Be a Prayer Warrior.

-Read 5 books.

-Do my visiting teaching.

-Go to the temple.

-Plan and do a recipe 

exchange with my friends.

-Finish Decluttering the front room.

Weekly Goals

-Write a blog post.

-Date night

-Read one chapter of 

The Finishing School

-Journal 3 xs

-Social Media Free Weekends

Daily Goals

-Scripture Study

-Belief Breakthrough

-Exercise

-Eat Healthy

-Play piano.

-Do Daily Chores.

-Record Gratitude

Last month I had stuffed full of things

I wanted to do for my goals,

and I actually did really good

getting them done!

This month I'm planning

on focusing on writing my book

and a keeping my house clean.