Just to clarify- This will now be my Interpersonal Communications BLOG only! It will talk all about the amazing class and what's going on.
SO just to begin, I am stoked for these projects of service! You know service is a huge part of who we are as members of this church, but really... How often do we consciously do something for someone else, plan and actually carry it out? I mean it is something we probably do without thinking.. like vacuuming 3 rooms two of which aren't yours without even thinking about it..
However I am beginning to think that the ones you plan are maybe more beneficial.. Because you expect nothing in return, except for maybe a smile... And I am thinking that you receive the most without really noticing it! I have gotten so excited about service just talking about it!
Well Off to eat dinner with my man!
Amy
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Continuing the conversation
My personal thoughts on the doer talk..
I wish I sounded more profound? I think I wrote this a little late at night, but the thing I am trying to get across is that.... this talk changed several of my "solidified" views...
To be honest, this talk changed my whole thoughts about being a girl and the challenges we face. I think that self esteem is another way for us to feel sorry for ourselves. But through the power of this talk my opinion has been changed, and molded into something new.
As a teenage girl life is hard, not that it isn’t for everyone, but Satan knows he can use our thoughts and turn them on ourselves. He has a huge upper hand in the media and knows is capabilities in this. He knows that if he can begin to get us to think less of ourselves we will have a lower self image and thus not be able to influence others for good. This talk changed my poor me attitude about this, self esteem is not something physical, it’s a strength that needs to be captured and cultivated into something higher than a look in the mirror.
The part in this talk that struck me the most is when she speaks about spiritual nakedness and how it effects the way we look at ourselves. She states that it is a feeling of guilt, which does, in a sense, cause self doubt. This nakedness which we feel is something that we can also see on the faces of others. You know when someone isn’t living their life to the best of their ability and when the option of sin is weighing heavily in their mind. They are missing that something that usually shines from their eyes. This will allow us to become intraverted, and closed, self conscious maybe, at the time when we need to open up and be bold the most.
Times like these in my own life are times when I have needed my Savior the most. That is why I appreciated the next paragraph so much. It states that He will not leave us comfortless, He knew we would feel such pain being away from His presence. He is all understanding, and gives us that hand when we lift it up to Him. These times when we feel our worst are the times that if we would stretch above ourselves ever so slightly higher, He would lift us to where we want to be. It takes effort, and sometimes we aren’t willing to give it.
Later on she continues to talks about setting ourselves up for these types of feelings. This is true, when we tell ourselves one incorrect principal it causes us to act on that furthering our progression for that closeness to our Heavenly Father. We set up that spiritual disease within ourselves, making our lives more difficult and this is not what our Father intended. He wanted us to be strong, brave, forthright individuals. How can we accomplish this if we are not actually being “do’ers” of what is being taught by our Father.
Finally the thing I love about this talk the most is its overall concept of the unimportance of self esteem. How true this is. Self esteem is something that the carnal man seeks after, and are we to be carnal men? No. We are to seek for something better, something higher. I am reminded of a song, I believe written by Hilary Weeks. It says something like… “Does the light of Christ shine through your eyes?” We all know those people who can get up in front of a crowd not prepared, bear a beautiful testimony and leave the whole congregation satisfied with the spirit and the power of their words. These are the types of people with whom Christ walks. He knows their heart and their intentions. He knows that self esteem is something that never crosses their mind because they know their God. They have taken the time to come close to him and understand that through Him, is the only true type of confidence found.
Self esteem is not something we should search for in a wishing well, in a mirror, a new pair of pants, or even things like surgery or colored contacts. It is something that is meant to bless the lives of others with goodness. It cannot bless the lives of others with the spirit if it is not founded in the spirit. It is something Godly, and worth seeking for, if only for the right reasons.
I wish I sounded more profound? I think I wrote this a little late at night, but the thing I am trying to get across is that.... this talk changed several of my "solidified" views...
To be honest, this talk changed my whole thoughts about being a girl and the challenges we face. I think that self esteem is another way for us to feel sorry for ourselves. But through the power of this talk my opinion has been changed, and molded into something new.
As a teenage girl life is hard, not that it isn’t for everyone, but Satan knows he can use our thoughts and turn them on ourselves. He has a huge upper hand in the media and knows is capabilities in this. He knows that if he can begin to get us to think less of ourselves we will have a lower self image and thus not be able to influence others for good. This talk changed my poor me attitude about this, self esteem is not something physical, it’s a strength that needs to be captured and cultivated into something higher than a look in the mirror.
The part in this talk that struck me the most is when she speaks about spiritual nakedness and how it effects the way we look at ourselves. She states that it is a feeling of guilt, which does, in a sense, cause self doubt. This nakedness which we feel is something that we can also see on the faces of others. You know when someone isn’t living their life to the best of their ability and when the option of sin is weighing heavily in their mind. They are missing that something that usually shines from their eyes. This will allow us to become intraverted, and closed, self conscious maybe, at the time when we need to open up and be bold the most.
Times like these in my own life are times when I have needed my Savior the most. That is why I appreciated the next paragraph so much. It states that He will not leave us comfortless, He knew we would feel such pain being away from His presence. He is all understanding, and gives us that hand when we lift it up to Him. These times when we feel our worst are the times that if we would stretch above ourselves ever so slightly higher, He would lift us to where we want to be. It takes effort, and sometimes we aren’t willing to give it.
Later on she continues to talks about setting ourselves up for these types of feelings. This is true, when we tell ourselves one incorrect principal it causes us to act on that furthering our progression for that closeness to our Heavenly Father. We set up that spiritual disease within ourselves, making our lives more difficult and this is not what our Father intended. He wanted us to be strong, brave, forthright individuals. How can we accomplish this if we are not actually being “do’ers” of what is being taught by our Father.
Finally the thing I love about this talk the most is its overall concept of the unimportance of self esteem. How true this is. Self esteem is something that the carnal man seeks after, and are we to be carnal men? No. We are to seek for something better, something higher. I am reminded of a song, I believe written by Hilary Weeks. It says something like… “Does the light of Christ shine through your eyes?” We all know those people who can get up in front of a crowd not prepared, bear a beautiful testimony and leave the whole congregation satisfied with the spirit and the power of their words. These are the types of people with whom Christ walks. He knows their heart and their intentions. He knows that self esteem is something that never crosses their mind because they know their God. They have taken the time to come close to him and understand that through Him, is the only true type of confidence found.
Self esteem is not something we should search for in a wishing well, in a mirror, a new pair of pants, or even things like surgery or colored contacts. It is something that is meant to bless the lives of others with goodness. It cannot bless the lives of others with the spirit if it is not founded in the spirit. It is something Godly, and worth seeking for, if only for the right reasons.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Continuing the Conversation for Interpersonal Communications:) WEEK ONE!
You know...
I have never really thought about the power of first impressions, till Monday. What a difference it makes when you are forced to actually write down what you think of someone.. You want to be truthful, but you dont know them. It made me think, will this mean anything to them? Will it have any influence at all? Could I hurt them?
I was with my AFY kids a few weeks ago.. And something really touched me..
We did this activity where we had to be very aware of the people around us, making sure they were ok... and such. Someone made a good point, they said have you ever stopped to think that these people have lives too?
And feelings? And people who find them beautiful? You can't just think that these people are simply actors in your life... They are really the star of their own lives..
It made me think about road rage, which I am known for. (Not serious or anything, just you know... the honkin' of the horn every.. now and again!) It made me think, I have no idea what is going on in this person's li;fe.. what kid of day they had, who they came across, who they love.. And here I am getting upset with someone I may NEVER meet... That first impression will never be possible...
This whole lesson, over the past few weeks, made me want to re-think my reality...
I just might.
I have never really thought about the power of first impressions, till Monday. What a difference it makes when you are forced to actually write down what you think of someone.. You want to be truthful, but you dont know them. It made me think, will this mean anything to them? Will it have any influence at all? Could I hurt them?
I was with my AFY kids a few weeks ago.. And something really touched me..
We did this activity where we had to be very aware of the people around us, making sure they were ok... and such. Someone made a good point, they said have you ever stopped to think that these people have lives too?
And feelings? And people who find them beautiful? You can't just think that these people are simply actors in your life... They are really the star of their own lives..
It made me think about road rage, which I am known for. (Not serious or anything, just you know... the honkin' of the horn every.. now and again!) It made me think, I have no idea what is going on in this person's li;fe.. what kid of day they had, who they came across, who they love.. And here I am getting upset with someone I may NEVER meet... That first impression will never be possible...
This whole lesson, over the past few weeks, made me want to re-think my reality...
I just might.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Continuing the Conversation for Interpersonal Communications:) WEEK ONE!
I am excited for the things that this class is trying to teach me. However one things really concerns me.. I am not sure about all this communication online. It just doesn't seem very, uhh personal? But I will learn as I go I suppose?
Elder Bednar's talk..
Now as we all know Twitter, unfortunately, does not allow for much breathing room when it comes to writing.. so my long winded and thorough explanations of my thoughts will be displayed here. However you will have to avoid all my posts about mass communication! (Even though what I say may be invaluable to some.. however, probably not!) BUUT these are my thoughts on Elder Bednar's talk..
This was so inspiring. I love to get up and speak in front of people. When it comes to the question... would I rather do a math problem? Or speak at devotional... I would choose the rather in a heart beat. And it probably would not effect me at all. (Knock on wood!) So this talk really made me think about my talks I have given in the past and how I try to teach. I was hit so hard when the thought came to me, we need to first be learners then teachers... and ALWAYS learning. I think that this is when the spirit speaks to you the loudest! And who wouldn't want that loud voice guiding you all the time. Especially when you are seeking for answers.
Another thing that hit me is when he talked about how teachers never really give answers. They allow the students to go out and search for them. This past summer I was an AFY counselor here on campus.. and we had an opportunity to have a "reunion" of sorts with some of the kids... We had an object lesson the day we went skiing... and there was a time when a leader asked a question... the silence was HEAVY! and he let it sit there, no one answered. And this was powerful... He waited a bit and said, that silence is delicious. It means that you are all taking in something the spirit is trying to teach you. He was letting them discover their own lesson. POWER.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for today.
Happy Saturday!
Elder Bednar's talk..
Now as we all know Twitter, unfortunately, does not allow for much breathing room when it comes to writing.. so my long winded and thorough explanations of my thoughts will be displayed here. However you will have to avoid all my posts about mass communication! (Even though what I say may be invaluable to some.. however, probably not!) BUUT these are my thoughts on Elder Bednar's talk..
This was so inspiring. I love to get up and speak in front of people. When it comes to the question... would I rather do a math problem? Or speak at devotional... I would choose the rather in a heart beat. And it probably would not effect me at all. (Knock on wood!) So this talk really made me think about my talks I have given in the past and how I try to teach. I was hit so hard when the thought came to me, we need to first be learners then teachers... and ALWAYS learning. I think that this is when the spirit speaks to you the loudest! And who wouldn't want that loud voice guiding you all the time. Especially when you are seeking for answers.
Another thing that hit me is when he talked about how teachers never really give answers. They allow the students to go out and search for them. This past summer I was an AFY counselor here on campus.. and we had an opportunity to have a "reunion" of sorts with some of the kids... We had an object lesson the day we went skiing... and there was a time when a leader asked a question... the silence was HEAVY! and he let it sit there, no one answered. And this was powerful... He waited a bit and said, that silence is delicious. It means that you are all taking in something the spirit is trying to teach you. He was letting them discover their own lesson. POWER.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for today.
Happy Saturday!
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