Business is business

In my Doctrine and Covenants class, Brother Perkins always says that "when you talk about business, there's no spirit, so let's have a prayer," right before the opening prayer. Today it occurred to me that, as one progresses, it's easy to forget that you're helping people for them, and your focus can get too much on the process, the organization, the time management of it all. In other words, one principle of time management is to remember that you're managing your time for the people you're serving, and that they're more important than your system. In Third Nephi, Jesus stayed a little longer with the Nephites because his "bowels are filled with compassion" for them.

Sleep, Nature, and Random Thoughts

I wonder how much of an effect proper sleeping habits have. And why is it that it's hard to remember sometimes to go to bed on time? I'm not sure.

I love nature. There's something beautiful and even spiritual about just looking out over what God created.

I wonder what excitement does to a person... what role can it play in motivation?

Charity

It seems to me that desires and focus may be the same thing, or at least very closely tied. When we focus or dwell on something, our desire for it increases. I've found that one of the best ways to control my desires is to think about what I want to want.

Cleanliness

One of the many things to be organized into my life is cleanliness. I've done pretty well at this for the last couple of weeks.

If you want to have the full portion of the Holy Ghost, cleanliness of home and body, as well as of spirit, need to be incorporated into your life whenever possible. If it's truly impossible or unwise, given other needs and priorities, then God will understand; but under no condition will we receive the full portion of the Spirit if we do less than perfect obedience. (That, of course, is not true of perfect skill and knowledge.) Fortunately for us, God has a portion of the Spirit for those who try but fall short and cry unto Him in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness and grace.

Both overcoming sins of comission and overcoming sins of omission require some skills. Avoiding sins of comission requires learning to avoid tempting situations. Avoiding sins of omission requires planning, prioritization, and righteous desires. "And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works" (Alma 7:24). "Through goals and plans, our hopes are transformed into action" (Preach My Gospel, Ch. 8).

Organization and Journaling Research

Well, I'm in a group that's studying if electronic journaling affects our health. So, I'm going to be publishing to my blog every day for the next two weeks.

I've been thinking very much about organization. I want to be able to actually accomplish things--to do some good in this world. Here are a few ideas from Preach My Gospel:
1. Keep both quantitative (numerical, summarizing, averages) and qualitative (detailed, personal, verbose) records of your goals and your efforts to reach those goals.
2. "Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish."
3. Planning and organization take time and energy.
4. "Through goals and plans, our hopes are transformed into action."

And a quote:
“I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.” --– Elder M. Russell Ballard, Oct. 18, 1981

Touched By An Angel With Love

I love this poem. It makes me think of Nikki.

Touched By An Angel With Love

by Meena.S.K

There is nothing else I cherish more in my life then have you helping me through my strife in my moments of despair you hear my cry kiss my tears away and to make me smile you try You are always near when the tide turns rough you make situations sound easy when they are tough you understand my needs even before I speak you point out my strength when I fall down weak When I shut you out and sink into my darkness tenderly you open the door and fill me with happiness when I fly into a rage and refuse to be calm you soothe me cradling me in your arms At times I say leave me alone and go away you hug me and whisper from you I will never stray there are times with my words I have hurt you you forgive and forget and say I love you When I am sick and feeling very down you take away my pain and my frown everything you do and say makes me smile listening to your voice I forget my tiring miles You care for me so much you never fail to show my heart to you it belongs I hope you know you are the one God sent to me from above I'm lucky to be touched by an angel with love http://www.poemslovers.com/love_poems/cute_love_poems/poems/9380.html