JOY IN THE MORNING is a beautiful phrase, and it has profound meanings. What I have learned is that the choices I make today not only affect me today, but they also affect me tomorrow as well. If I want to wake up with joy in the morning, I need to do my part to make it happen each day. When tragedy and major disappointments strike and knock us down, we must immediately turn to the Lord and seek His guidance to get back up. He will heal our aching hearts, inspire our thoughts, and cause the right people to come into our lives who will help us get through our difficult times.
Read MoreI believe anxiety can be reduced and/or eliminated by using these five “remedies” each day. The act of being proactive spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially every day can transform your life. Using one of these “remedies” is good. Using all five is best!
Read MoreSeptember 10th is National Suicide Prevention Day. I hope as Fall marches quickly into our busy lives, we will pause sometime this month and think about those whom we know who were so depressed that they took their own lives. Please reach out to the loved ones of these individuals on these sad anniversaries—it is always nice to know that others care and remember our loss. “Strength comes in numbers” is an old saying, but it still applies today in both joy and pain.
Read MoreI now understand that we must love ourselves first if we want to feel God’s love for us. Our negative thoughts and feelings towards ourselves trap us in a dark cave where the sunlight of God’s love cannot penetrate. We must crawl out of the cave by loving ourselves and trusting that God’s love and sunlight will be there waiting for us. I promise it will be!
Read MoreYou must believe in yourself. You must believe that your life really matters, and the universe really does need you. It needs your personality. It needs your talents—the ones you have now—and the ones you don’t even know about yet that you will develop throughout your lifetime—much to your surprise! Right now, you have no idea what great gifts are hibernating within you or what amazing experiences are awaiting you up ahead. You must believe in yourself!
Read MoreI hope you will take a few minutes to watch this incredible music video, “Strong,” which was written for Sarah Frei. I’m sure it will be as life-changing for you as it has been for me. I believe that Jesus Christ can help each one of us to be STRONG.
Read MoreI have always tried to carry one-dollar bills in my purse or pocket to give to those in need. I know not everyone agrees with my attitude of giving to the poor, but I feel in my heart it’s the right thing for me to do. My son Jonathan was homeless at different times in his life, and I know he stayed alive from the handouts of other people. Whenever I give to someone in need, I think of Jonathan.
Read MoreI want to encourage everyone who is reading this right now to make a commitment to not even think about suicide. Whenever the thought pops into your mind, immediately stop that thought and do something different. Get up, go outside, take a walk, call someone. Find something—anything—you can do to remove yourself from your current, depressive environment. Do everything it takes to get rid of the negative energy around you, which is bringing those suicidal thoughts into your mind.
Read MoreWhen I first read about Covid-19 in other parts of the world, it was hard to imagine it coming to the United States and doing the same type of severe health damage and imminent death that was going on elsewhere. When I became aware that it had arrived here, I started reading the daily updates in America and in other parts of the world. I was shocked at how quickly everything shut down as “quarantine, social distancing, face masks, and hand sanitizer” became part of our daily vocabulary.
Read MoreAlong with the incredible, life-changing 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, there is another 12-step program that has helped countless individuals to make permanent changes in their lives through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Read MoreAll people need a touch of friendship. It can be a smile, a hug, a text or email, or even a note or card. If the thought of someone comes into your mind, act upon the impression you receive to brighten that person’s day. I love the quote by Marjorie Pay Hinckley, “Never suppress a generous thought.”
Read MoreIt doesn’t matter what you call it. You can change.
Read MoreA set of twelve poems that were inspired by the life-changing ”12 Steps” of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Read MoreWhat happened in the past will stay in the past.
Read MoreThere is no easy cure for depression, but I believe if a cure is ever to be found that it will require coming at the problem from several different angles.
Read MoreOver the years I've learned coping strategies that have helped me remove depressive feelings and replace them with positive feelings as I continue to deal with the stresses and discouragement of daily life.
Read MoreBy the time I was six, my confidence and feelings of high self-esteem began to diminish. Instead of feeling good about myself, I just pretended I did. I tried to figure out what happened to the positive feelings I had felt about myself as a child, but I couldn’t.
Read MoreI believe Jesus Christ has the miraculous power to heal all illnesses and addictions.
Read MoreThe miracles that Jesus Christ has performed for others, he can also do for you. Remember, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). You do the best you can, and He will do the rest.
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