Don't think...too much.

Don't think too much. You'll create a problem that wasn't even there in the first place.


I love this quote because it's so true. It has started to become one of my pet peeves when people think too much. With debates, opinions, ideas, what they're going to wear that day, anything. When you get down to it, somethings just don't matter. Don't get me wrong. Everyone should have an opinion, and the ability to express it. But.... sorry to burst your bubble, your Facebook status isn't going to sway a national debate. Or help you decide how to get dressed in the morning.

And in comparison, some things lose their value. If you have a loved one who is suddenly diagnosed with cancer and has 3 weeks to live, those other worries aren't so much of a worry anymore.

Challenge? Don't stress. Life is going to be OK. Get something done, and quit worrying.

-Jannallred

Passionately curious

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.
-Albert Einstein

Challenge

I have another challenge for today. It's basically to do something you don't want to do. Clean that closet you've been avoiding all winter. Go for that jog you "never have time for". Get your to-do list done a little quicker without so many "sit around and avoid the next thing on the list" moments.

I did this challenge a few times today. I have a Concerto Competition coming up, and I'm learning a SUPER simple concerto. But, that makes it even harder for me because I actually have to memorize every. single. note. and random measures of rest because it's a duet. It's been stressing me out on how I'm going to finish learning, memorize, perfect it in the next 3 weeks. But today I finally chained myself down and worked on it. I made a little progress, and messed around for a little bit until I had the patience to try again. Guess what? I made some discoveries.
1) If I just sucked it up and concentrated, I could get it done
2) The last three pages I haven't learned yet are repeats of the beginning song with some simple variations.

So, not only did I make progress on my memorization, I cut my stress-level in half when I realized how much easier it was actually going to be.

The second thing I did was go for a jog. I like to go for jogs until I get our there and have to push myself especially because I have no endurance. None. But, I pushed myself, and worked a little harder. It feels good.

Third, I have been inviting an old childhood friend to try reading the Book of Mormon. It's a long story, but we've been friends since kindergarten, but it gets weird when you're a teenager, especially when you're not as good of friends anymore. A month ago I got up the courage to talk to him about it. He said he would read it, but I don't think he has. So I tried again tonight. We'll see how he responds later.

Now that I think about it, this post is a fourth one. The fact that I write about myself and what I've been thinking, then post them on the internet with my name plastered across it kind of sounds like a dumb thing to do. Yet, I'm taking the risk, and keep this blog going.

Well, that's it for tonight, folks. Do something you don't want to. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you get to do what you want, and not have to worry about what you should be doing. It's a win-win situation, I'm tellin' you.

-Jannallred

Leap!

(Source: http://www.mymodernmet.com)



Amen! It reminds me of "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway play, Wicked.

So obviously, today's challenge is to take a leap of faith!
-Jannallred

Laugh vs. Cry

(source: http://bakowbabble.blogspot.com)


I love Marjorie. She is filled with simple wisdom.
-Jannallred

Preparing for the Temple

Today was Ward Conference, and I learned a ton! The theme was preparing for the temple. I've always heard about how you should prepare for the temple, but I never really knew what that meant. But today, I learned TONS of ways to prepare for the temple:

1) Strengthen our testimony of the Atonement and the role of the Savior
2) Strengthen righteous desires
3) Gain a deeper understanding of the atonement
3) Overcome sin through the atonement
4) Put off natural man
5) Become a saint (by the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement)
6) Bring cleansing power into our lives
7) Become converted- come to know the Savior
8) Look words up in the Bible Dictionary (Anoint, temple, seal, Atonement, Savior)

From Sister Dalton's Challenge to Young Woman:
1) Pray daily 100%
2) Read scriptures at least five minutes or more daily 100%
3) Live the For Strength of Youth Standards 100%
4) Smile 100%
*Prepare Spiritually
*Prepare Physically

We need to dress modestly daily. It reflects in our actions. Communicate that the temple is your goal by the way you dress. Make going to the temple a plan. We do not have to be perfect (thought we do need to be worthy) to enter the temple. But the things we learn inside the temple will help us to become perfect.

The speaker shared a story of a teen young woman who had taken a Sharpie and written above her door: "The temple is my goal." I'm tempted to do it too.

May the construction of the TEMPLE continue.
May the construction of our LIVES continue.

This will be this WEEKS (if not lifetime) challenge.

-Jannallred