Super Duper Stress Creator

When it comes to writing, what is your ultimate super duper stress creator?

Is it coming up with the idea for your new book?

Is it writing that first draft?

Re-writing?

Editing?

Publishing?



Photo by: ladybugbkt, courtesy of Flickr

Marketing?

Anything that creates stress can block you from moving forward. Take it from me, if you also have life stresses occurring on a fairly frequent basis, you'll also have to figure out how to make your life work.

So how do you do it?

I am an avid believer in prayer; taking those moments to reflect and ponder about my life. I'm also fairly organized, and this helps when I find myself stressing about something I have little or no control over. Taking a break helps, too.

Today I made banana bread with the grand-children.

Tomorrow I might decide to take a walk.

Photo by:

 

rkleine, courtesy of Flickr

If your day feels too full (and some days what you can handle is less than what you can handle on other days) be aware of yourself enough to let go of what really doesn't matter.

And keep smiling.

DECEMBER 22
Sacraments

When I have thought about the greatest place to ponder, my list has begun with the temple or House of God. What greater place is there to think on the Lord and receive answers to our prayers? 



 Photo by: MrColJ, Courtesy of Flickr

Do you attend the temple with questions in your mind and heart? Do you go as an empty vessel ready to receive? Some of the instruction in the temple is precious and pure and shouldn’t be recorded in our journals, but what of the impressions we receive that we can record? What of our testimony of the temple? What of our answers to prayer?

As I think of the temple and the glory within, I am reminded of our Celestial home, and our celestial Mother and Father. Don’t you think they are close by, especially since the temple is their ‘home away from home?’ Don’t you think Father is listening? Don’t you think he is anxious for us to learn all that we need to know? Don’t you think he wants us to return to the temple, often, for a well-needed visit?

As I think of the temple and the blessings that come through our attending to this sacred duty, I am also reminded of the sacred ordinance of the sacrament. What better time to ponder when we’re outside of the temple? What better time to pray, think on his atonement and seek forgiveness of our sins? What better time to commune with our Father?

Our homes can, and should be, just as sacred as the temple, just as sacred as that sacrament meeting when we partake of the sacrament. I am aware that to achieve this same level of sacredness is even more difficult to achieve in our homes. We have the flavor of the world to distract us. But what of this making of our homes as a temple of God (See Bible Dictionary, Temple)? Is it truly possible? What does it take to make such a desire possible?

Photo by: Herry Lawford, Courtesty of Flickr

Record your thoughts.