The ABC's of the Abundant Life

Saturday, July 14, 2012

The ABC's of the Abundant Life

I read an article in an old Ensign yesterday and today. It's by President Monson, the prophet today, and it's called, "Living the Abundant Life". I think it's what I really needed right now. You can read it here. It's about changing your life in a "quest for the abundant life." He says you need three things to have an abundant life, a positive Attitude, to Believe in yourself, and Courage.

Some exerpts I'd like to remember:

About having a positive attitude:

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”²

We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.

I really like that phrase, "We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." Recognizing what we do and don't have control over, is very empowering. I'd like to start the day with "What can I do today to make it a happy day?" Because we really DO have that power to change our attitude, and our attitude makes all the difference.

About believing in yourself:

Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th century, penned this truth: “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”⁴

Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

So it's more than just believing in your self, it's staying true to yourself. Believe that you are full of potential, that you CAN surmount the obstacles place in your life. And have faith in God that He will help you.

About having Courage:

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

"Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, "I'll try again tomorrow". " That really does take courage some days. Sometimes my head is so full of all the ways I did not succeed today, that I forget about the atonement, and that I can start anew tomorrow. Life is full of mistakes, it takes courage to rise above them and "try again".