were is my heart?

Since the start of this year I have found myself evaluating my role as a father and took a good look at how I am doing. The more I looked the more I saw. The reading this week was filled with material that lifted the reader’s ideals and ultimate and fundamental goals higher. I have been taught by the spirit of the first few weeks of this month and this continued this week. Funny thing is the more we thing on a specific aspect the more tools we are given to receive further guidance. I have been asked to speak on "The Priesthood in the Home" and this further heightened my awareness around what is at my core, driving me. 

This last Monday someone asked that we think of how our Heavenly Father would treat us if he were here? Would he ever shout at us or use compulsion to get us to do what he wants? He asked why do we then shout at each other and even our children? That is not the pattern our Father has set for us. 

This type of searching ties in with what I experienced with this week’s reading. If my heart is in the right place I will act differently because I see things differently. 

Trust Yourself - Week 3

Trust yourself! These two simple words had a great impact on me and cause much reflection this week. If I don’t trust myself how can I expect to reach my goals? I need to trust in my gut and the abilities I have. I think often I sell myself short and may lack the last bit of confidence to be truly successful.  The reading this week suggested that private victories can build the needed trust in myself.  These three to does are the first three of 7 habits listed by Stephen R. Covey. They include 1 – Be proactive 2 - Begin with the end in mind (those who win Private Victories see where they want to end up) 3 – First things first (have a plan, then execute the plan).

By doing these things I can gain the confidence needed to make my mark on the world. We are taught that fear is the opposite of faith and because of fear our progress is stifled.  I should act with faith proving to myself, privately that I am able do it. While doing, this I should be governed by my own personal standards. These standards should be consistent at home and in the world.

Permanent Beta - Week 1

This is my first Blog, ever, and that proves the title of this blog. Permanent Beta. Individually we are in permanent Beta testing. This concept resonated with me from this week’s material, there is so much fundamental motivation and perspective that can come from this train of thought. Ultimately both in life and in business we are our own greatest asset. This concept also fits in perfectly with the very reason for our existence; to improve and grow through experiences and our efforts to become better trough those situations. Each life lesson is a building block to new improved version of myself. Each day is filled with those blocks and only by choosing to mortar them in will I improve. 

I should invest in myself because, I will earn those dividends both temporally and spiritually. I should not seek to invest in passing a class or pretending to be something I am not. I should seek to deeply learn and change. Elder Bednar illiterates this concept by referring to the academic path of least resistance. He said, " College is not just an experience to endure and “get through” with the false expectation that somehow, someway we will magically be different on the day we graduate.  Rather, a college experience is a period of development in one’s life to be prized and prospered.  Indeed, simply settling for “getting through” college is like buying an expensive car that has no engine.  The car may look very good from the outside, but inside the real power is missing."

As I seek to improve it should not be superficial improvement but, rooted in the idea that I am improving on the previous version of myself.