New way of thinking

So I said I would explain a little further.

1- Stop worrying about your weaknesses:  We don't get happier trying to fix what is wrong with us.  We get happier pursuing our strengths- Doing the things we LOVE.  She mentioned her discovery when she looked at her patriartical blessing and counted how many things the Lord told her she would have weaknesses in, and how many things she would have as strengths.  He focused on the strengths- not the weaknesses.  We need to do the same and focus on our strengths and we will be happier. (http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx)

2- Don't try to get motivated to exercise:  Motivation follows action.  How many times do we say to ourselves that we need to find the right thing to motivate us to exercise more, or clean better, or anything?  We need to just start doing it, and the motivation will come.  Just trick yourself for 2 minutes to start and see how far you can get in those two minutes.  Two becomes five, and five becomes ten and ten becomes twenty and on...  Change into workout clothes for the comfort... then put your gym shoes on to walk outside and get the mail.  Then instead of stopping at the mailbox, walk to the neighbors mailbox, and the corner is just a little further, and then you might as well go around the block because it's so nice outside... and while your at it you may as well jog just a little bit... before you know it you will have that motivation!

3- Stop trying to find friends: Develop the skills of friendship.  Studies have shown that the happiest people have had at least six hours of social contact daily.  Make and respond to bids for friendship.  Pay attention and smile at someone, start a conversation, and reply to conversations.  A study was doing that employee's were 7 times more likely to be satisfied with their job if they had a good friend at work.  Make an effort to have one truly meaningful conversation each day.

4- Don't try to feel happy:  Instead of trying to feel happy, try to feel greatful.  Do gratitude exercises.(http://heartmath.com/)  Generate the feeling of gratitude.  It changes our physiology when we are feeling grateful.  Our heartrate goes down, we feel calmer.  She gave an example in her life that she started to make the effort to use her evening prayers as gratitude prayers, and use her morning prayers to ask for help, guidance and blessings.  She would pray and share all she was thankful for in those prayers and she would sleep easier and have more restful sleep.

5- Celebrate Failure:  We have all grown up hearing the saying "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing it ___________"  Don't fall into the trap that if you fail at something you shouldn't have even tried it.  When we fail we have taken the steps to grow, to stretch out and reach out to learn something new.  We should not dismiss the things we have learned when we have still failed in something.  The Atonement is the ultimate example in this.  We can try our hardest and do everything in this life to live it righteously- but we cannot be perfect and the atonement allows us to make mistakes and it covers for those mistakes.  Rejoice in failure.  We work hard for the failure and be proud of the work we've done- the result doesn't matter as much.

6- Don't get help with your problems:  Instead- help someone else with their problems.  Science is telling us now that the single most reliable way to better our mood- is in service.  Ask yourself- what did I do today to help someone?

7- Don't endure to the end:  Life is not to be endured. Life is to be enjoyed.  Savor everyday delights.  Find ways to add little pleasures into your life.  The little pleasures make life more enjoyable.