Turning CHALLENGES into opportunities to GROW

I haven't blogged for awhile because something has been amiss with either my blog account or my computer....we shall see if this post actually posts.

I have been thinking quite a bit over the last few weeks about some of my challenges or weaknesses, whatever term you want to use. Things that I want to work on or change....I guess you could say, resolutions, though I hesitate to use that term because these are things I'd like to change permanently, not just for the month of January.

A few of these things are:

1. I have a hard time being happy for other's successes sometimes. This makes me feel like a total loser and not a good friend! Last Sunday in Relief Society, we had a lesson about President George Albert Smith. One of his points to live by was being happy for others. I have been thinking about this since then and have realized that it's not that I'm not happy for others, but rather other's successes make me think about my own shortcomings and things that maybe I tried and weren't so successful and who likes to dredge that up?

2. Sometimes I give up on myself.

3. I am not a scriptorian. I often feel dumb during Sunday School. This is really my own fault.

4. I don't have a sibling. This is never going to change. I often feel like everyone has a sister but me. Obviously I'm not the only only child in the world. I spend too much time lamenting something that is out of my control, being envious of those who have such relationships and feeling like I don't belong anywhere.

5. It's so hard as a mom to not want to run and protect your child from all the drama that can surround them, especially in the tween/early teen years.

So.....solutions? All are easy, obvious and worth it, but some will be definitely easier to accomplish than others.

1. Instead of thinking about my own shortcomings, focus on positive things. And be happy for others. I don't know their weaknesses and maybe the thing they are successful in is their one thing to be happy about.

2. Don't put off doing something, thinking I'm not good enough to do that. I am worth it.

3. Don't just read, but study my scriptures. (That one is obvious)

4. Be happy with who I am and in the circumstances I have been given.

5. Teach my kids to be confident and compassionate people, that most drama will resolve itself and if not, you don't want to hang out with that kind of person anyway.

That's a pretty tall order, even though there's only 5 things on my list. Instead of giving up on myself though, here's to making some positive changes.