- “I notice myself worrying about something. I let go of the worry-thoughts, shifting my focus away from them. I wonder: what positive new thing is trying to come into being? I usually get a body feeling (not a thought or idea) of where that positive new thing is trying to come through. I open my focus to feel that body feeling deeply. I let myself feel it deeply for as long as I possibly can. Later, I often get an idea of the positive thing that was trying to come through.” The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (Gay Hendricks) Page 71
- “Both criticizing yourself and criticizing others are highly addictive and very popular ways of busting up the flow of positive energy.” The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (Gay Hendricks) Page 77
- “The next time you find yourself with a stomachache, a throbbing head, or a stubbed toe, ask yourself if you might be Upper-Limiting. Sometimes a headache’s just a headache, but often if you look a little deeper you’ll find that it’s an expression of your Upper Limit Problem. Then, it’s a signal that you need to expand instead of contract. It’s telling you that it’s time to open up and embrace a new high-water mark of positive energy that’s trying to establish itself in you. Underneath the headache might be an insight that is as powerfully positive as the pain is negative. The surface pain is often caused by resisting the underlying positive message. Sometimes the positive message is a message we’re afraid to hear, such as “It’s time to quit my job and do something else.”” The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level (Gay Hendricks) Page 96
- “Almost all of our programming, both negative and positive, was accepted by us by the time we were three years old.” You Can Heal Your Life (Louise Hay) Page 61
- “It’s not so much what happens to us but how we deal with what happens to us.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 20)
- “We cannot foresee what the Lord has in mind for us. Our only course of action is to be prepared and worthy for whatever he requires. We must govern our actions every day with our future in mind.” (M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 1990, 35-36)
- A poem written while in quarantine during COVID19 outbreak. “What if… If we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work. That all is interconnected. What if…The virus is here to help us? To reset. To remember. What is truly important. Reconnecting with family and community. Reducing travel so that the environment, the skies, the air, our lungs all get a break. Parts of China are seeing blue sky and clouds for the first time in forever with the factories being shut down. Working from home rather than commuting to work (less pollution, more personal time). Reconnecting with family as there is more time at home. An invitation to turn inwards — a deep meditation — rather than the usual extroverted going out to self-soothe. To reconnect with self — what is really important to me? A reset economically. The working poor. The lack of healthcare access for over 30 million in the US. The need for paid sick leave. How hard does one need to work to be able to live, to have a life outside of work? To face our mortality — check back into “living” life rather than simply working, working, working. To reconnect with our elders, who are so susceptible to this virus. And, washing our hands — how did that become a “new” thing that we needed to remember. But, yes, we did. The presence of Grace for all. There is a shift underway in our society — what if it is one that is favorable for us? What if this virus is an ally in our evolution? In our remembrance of what it means to be connected, humane, living a simpler life, to be less impactful/ more kind to our environment. An offering from my heart this morning. Offered as another perspective. Another way of relating to this virus, this unfolding, this evolution. It was time for a change, we all knew that. And, change has arrived. What if…” Gurpeet K. Gill. Courtesy of Carl Tong from City National Bank
- “As we view the endless course ahead, the glory and wonder on each succeeding peak seems to swallow up the shadow and sorrows in the valley below.” (Bruce R. McConkie, General Conference, Apr. 1980)
- “It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal. Teach our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out. There is great purpose in our struggle in life.” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1978, 93)
- “I feel, my brethren and sisters, to exhort you with heartfelt expression. Be of good cheer–be not disheartened; for assuredly the day rapidly comes when your tears shall be dried, your hearts comforted, and you shall eat of the products of your labors. …” Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow. Chapter 7: Faithfulness in Times of Trial: “From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine”
- “December 12th, 1994 – Monday. Puyo Ecuador…Dad wrote me some good advice today. He told me “feeling discouraged or unsuccessful comes from within you – you determine your attitude and no one or nothing can unless you allow it to. So, trust in the Lord – I dare you to try Him.” These words are so true. I should always be happy and – BE MYSELF!!! I’ve just got to press forward, and work my tail off. The blessings will come. Maybe I’m just looking for baptisms as the only blessings. I need to notice the little blessings! I’ve got a ton!” Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
- Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve counseled: “None of us will escape tragedy and suffering. Each of us will probably react differently. However, if we can recall the Lord’s promise, ‘for I the Lord am with you,’ we will be able to face our problems with dignity and courage. We will find the strength to be of good cheer instead of becoming resentful, critical, or defeated. We will be able to meet life’s unpleasant happenings with clear vision, strength, and power. … “What a joy it is to see someone of good cheer, who, when others because of an unpleasant happening or development live in angry silence or vocal disgust, meets the situation with cheerful endurance and good spirits” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 84–85; or Ensign, May 1986, 66). Doctrine and Covenants and Church History: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 10: “This Is My Voice unto All”
- “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives” President Nelson
- February 20, 1996 – Tuesday – Quito Ecuador… “Right now I’m a little shook up. Emotionally wise. Tonight we went to an FHE at the Melo’s house. The Vallejos & Tipan families went with us. The Spirit was so strong & great there. We then arrived late to the Salas’ house. I’m sure we’re testing their patience. We started and Elder Ponciano started speaking on the importance of obeying parents, etc. Lourdes then went off on Lorena, telling us how bad she was etc. It was very uncomfortable. No Spirit. But the Spirit of contention. We were there 1 ½ hours, and the two of them spoke. Lorena finally spoke which is what she needed to do and Lourdes needed to do. Elder Ponciano & I did our best, trying to help them openly talk and come to conclusions. At the end, the Lord blessed us with such a strong spirit that it brought tears to our eyes. We then left and as we were walking down the street a drunk came up to us, asking for $ for some beer. Then an urgent feeling came over me saying to catch a Taxi & leave!! About 3 or 4 Taxis came by. The empty ones didn’t stop & I started getting scared. The drunk was getting very upset because we didn’t cooperate. We kept trying to walk and the drunk started to look around as if to see if there were people. Well, I looked ahead and there was a Taxi backing up to us. I was so happy because we were in a full on feeling of Satan. We got in the Taxi (Ponciano got in back, entering from the other side) and the drunk wouldn’t allow us to shut the door. I told the chofer to Go, so he did. The Tax driver then told us that he saw us as he passed by. He then went up the hill and came back down in front of us and then backed up. He told us that the drunk was a robber, and that he had a knife on him. We thanked the Taxi driver for stopping, paid him & left. As I said, I’m shooken up. 1st of all because of what COULD’VE happened if we didn’t have the Spirit with us, and to recognize the difference as the drunk came up. 2nd of all, Satan is trying so hard to kick us out of this sector. He has done more things with us this past week that I see that he’s working intensely. He has given us the creeps, etc, but he won’t send us out of here. I know that we are here to kick him out of this sector and zone, and he’s fighting until the end. Stan is testifying to me that Elder Ponciano is a valiant Spirit, that he’s going to be the one to finally overcome this sector. That’s the goal. Kick Satan out through hard work, obedience, studies, positive attitude, Love, Patience, diligence, and the Priesthood of God. I love this work.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
- March 25, 1996 – Tuesday – Quito Ecuador…“Elder Goettsche & I then left on a Split. We went to Valle de los Chillos together. Elder Batt was sick, so Elder Goettsche took over the lesson. We then went back to la Tola and our citas dogged us. We did a few important contacts, and we were very positive. That’s the key. Some missionaries get down when things don’t go their way. All we have to remember is that this is the Lord’s work. What He wants done will be done when He wants it done. Patience & Hard Work.” – Clinton Brown Missionary Journal
- “President Gordon B. Hinckley’s mother, Ada Bitner Hinckley, often said that a happy attitude and smiling countenance could boost one over almost any misfortune and that every individual was responsible for his own happiness. His father, Bryant S. Hinckley, also had an inherently positive outlook. President Hinckley recalled, When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve. Influenced by his parents’ counsel and example, young Gordon Hinckley learned to approach life with optimism and faith.” Manual, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, Chapter 3, Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism