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“The Lord doesn’t expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn’t (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be.” – President Dieter F. Utchdorf
For the last several months, I have been working on being more charitable. However, my focus has been on small measures that come to mind, or short term goals. They are usually along the lines of “We should do this for so-and-so” or “I need to call so-and-so to see if they can use these clothes I saved.”. I have felt that I am making progress in being more charitable (with a greater understanding of how far I need to go). This quote resonated with me because it is such an individual yardstick. It is reassuring that I can measure up on the individual yardstick between God and myself – that I am not competing with (or falling woefully behind) anyone else.
Quote:“Work is an antidote for anxiety, an ointment for sorrow, and a doorway to possibility. Whatever our circumstances in life, my dear brethren, let us do the best we can and cultivate a reputation for excellence in all that we do. Let us set our minds and bodies to the glorious opportunity for work that each new day presents.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
I found that during my most anxious times, making small, achievable goals that focused me was helpful. I would sort clothes, clean the house, and other tasks throughout the household. It was not the complete solution, but it was very helpful.
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/11/two-principles-for-any-economy?lang=eng What works paid off the most in your lives? Was work an antidote for anxiety for you as well?
I first would add that Charity in the NT and BoM is better defined as love. I believe that there can be a fundamental difference between “How can I serve so and so?” and “How can I express love for so and so?” Rather than asking “Do I give enough?” a different question is “Do I love (and show it)?”
I believe that each one of us is LOVED without qualifiers and without limits.
I believe that you, Amy, will never be good enough. The love that wishes to embrace you does not care.
So go out and live strong, fall down and get back up again. Live, laugh, and love authentically – knowing that your relationship as a beloved, cherished, and accepted daughter of HF was never hanging in the balance.
P.S. Work is also good and can be an expression of love.
Roy wrote:
I first would add that Charity in the NT and BoM is better defined as love. I believe that there can be a fundamental difference between “How can I serve so and so?” and “How can I express love for so and so?”
I agree. The official lesson is on “Work” and the glories thereof. I agree that people do better when they are industriously engaged in fulfilling opportunities such as employment, household-building, and reaching out to others.
I go to my job every day because I value being able to provide physically for the needs of myself and my family. I am also in a position where I get to help others every day. When I am not at the office, I am household-building with my spouse – either spending time with my children or completing additional responsibilities (or both when I can manage it).
Roy wrote:
Rather than asking “Do I give enough?” a different question is “Do I love (and show it)?”
That is a question worth asking. Thank you.
Roy wrote:
So go out and live strong, fall down and get back up again. Live, laugh, and love authentically – knowing that your relationship as a beloved, cherished, and accepted daughter of HF was never hanging in the balance.
Working on it. I am very good at finding creative ways to fall down.
Thank you!
I guess I should provide some clarification actually… I love people one-on-one. When I take the MBTI-like tests, my results are always with a solid “N” – usually INFJ.
My weakness is I have limited Executive Functioning and I work by “talking” myself through everything. So while I always feel love towards people, I have to develop small concrete goals and talk myself through achieving the goals to show that love.
I usually score ENFJ. Strong N as well. For me, moving helps reduce anxiety. I am sometimes not good at it. But trying to stay balanced is an effort. Work, but not overwork. Do good, but accept yourself as you are and your efforts. Relax, but don’t get so lazy you do nothing.
It seems there is a tension in the middle that keeps it balanced…like a rubber band. If that band is too lose…it isn’t useful. If it is too tight…it snaps. Just the right amount of tension to have the band be useful. Getting used to the right amount of tension is one key. Learning how to tighten or loosen in small actions with course correction is another key lesson.
I like those Uchtdorf quotes you used.
We should strive to find peace with ourselves as we are, and the work we do. I’m not always good at it.
Heber13 wrote:
For me, moving helps reduce anxiety. I am sometimes not good at it.
I do better with physical tasks that don’t require brain work while dealing with anxiety. Folding laundry is my personal favorite. I tried knitting, but the mental capacity to complete the movements of the needles through space made it less pleasurable than work. Perhaps in time I might have gotten good enough at it not to have to figure out the mental gymnastics involved.
NOTE: I am horrible at spatial stuff – mostly moving small objects through space. That is why I rarely play video games (even though it is more socially acceptable in my generation) and why our furniture stays in the same placement for years once it has been perfected.
Heber13 wrote:
But trying to stay balanced is an effort. Work, but not overwork. Do good, but accept yourself as you are and your efforts. Relax, but don’t get so lazy you do nothing.It seems there is a tension in the middle that keeps it balanced…like a rubber band. If that band is too lose…it isn’t useful. If it is too tight…it snaps. Just the right amount of tension to have the band be useful. Getting used to the right amount of tension is one key. Learning how to tighten or loosen in small actions with course correction is another key lesson.
While this is not a new thought to me, I like the way you put it and find in it especially applicable right now. Just when I think that I might have the band setting right, a family member goes through a developmental upgrade and either I get to devote more energy to helping them, or they went and changed the protocols and now I need to build new ones. Overall, this is not a bad thing – but I feel like I spend quite a bit of time being the person walking on the barrel in water and trying not to fall off.
Heber13 wrote:
We should strive to find peace with ourselves as we are, and the work we do. I’m not always good at it.
I like this. Thank you.
AmyJ wrote:
Folding laundry is my personal favorite.
Doing the dishes is mine. Achieves several purposes, doesn’t require brainpower, easy, and it is always there.
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