Wherever you are...

Where are you going. What are you doing. Who are you and who do you want to become. 

For me this last year especially I've had a lot of thoughts on these questions. There have been some really great learning experiences I've had and some struggles I've had to work through and learn from. The thing about life is that it is just that. We all endure it. We each enjoy it and we all struggle with it too. 

In life there are so many things pulling us in all kinds of directions. We struggle each week, at least, and strive to move forward on paths to our goals and dreams. For me, I've learned of ways that I actually hinder my own progress and through understanding that- I have become more productive and more goal oriented as well. Each of us have things that pull us away from becoming our best. Let me make a suggestion through the words of a friend:  "Anything that draws you away from the Lord and your best, is of the adversary." A. Gettys. 

The adversary is trying to "sift us as wheat." 3 Nephi 18:18. Every day there is light and truth trying to be taken from us and little ideas, addictions, distractions, or beliefs that are thrown our way that simply aren't true. What we do with those is important. We need to constantly seek out what is right and true. I bring these things up because I really feel like everything that draws us away from our best, from whom we want to be and can be, is ultimately from the adversary. Those things make us less productive, less happy, more lazy, and most importantly- can alter the way we see ourselves and the world around us. 

Don't sacrifice what you want now for what you want in the future.

Something we all get to be pretty good at is belittling ourselves. Doubting what we can do and not having faith in ourselves and also in how much Heaven can help us in our endeavors. Something I've learned to remember is that challenges and temptations aren't a new thing... and neither are weakness and ignorance. We all have them and experienced them. Even the Savior was tempted. He had a challenge and He chose to remain focused on His mission in life. Every one of Heavenly Fathers' children are different and struggle in various ways. We all have that in our lives constantly. And something that Elder Haynie has said many times is that "you don't know what you don't know." We have to learn in this life and in order to learn we need to be shown contrast. This is the most important thing:

Wherever you are on the road of discipleship... you're on the right road.  Neil L. Anderson

We are human and will struggle. It's that simple. But get back up, remember who you are and that you are a loved child of a Heavenly Father that is watching over you- and keep pushing on. Goals are great, but you're not a failure if you fail to reach them. Remember to watch out for those who sew tares amongst the wheat. Learn to pay attention and seek guidance in life from the best source of truth... Pray! And remember this thought on scripture study too: We read the scriptures every day not because they change... but because every day we change.

 "Have faith. Trust yourself and trust in God. And if you start to feel overwhelmed... just focus on baby steps. One week at a time, one day at a time,  one task to do and you will do it. Maybe not the first time and definitely not every time. But we don't practice only if we're the best at something: we practice because as we fail and push on... we change. And that change makes all the difference." Steven Hatch