LIKING the people you LOVE

Today I'm answering a question from a listener. She's in a difficult situation, with an adult child who is angry about the way she was raised.

I thought it was a great topic to address because it's a common one.

Sometimes as our children are trying to make sense of their world, they decide that their parents are causing their unhappiness.

Today's episode will talk about why this happens and what we can do if it does.

It's been said that worry doesn't take away tomorrow's troubles. It only robs us of today's peace.

The general consensus is that worry isn't useful, and that we shouldn't waste our mental energy worrying.

But to me that doesn't seem totally realistic.

When I care about someone, I want to spend some mental energy thinking about them, praying for them, and figuring out how I can best love and serve them.

So today we're going to talk about when our "worry" is unhealthy or unproductive, and how to redirect our thoughts to be more helpful and productive.

The youtube video that I talk about is here.

We are promised in the scriptures that miracles will follow them that believe.

If you feel like you could use a miracle or two in your life, this episode is for you.

Talk from President Nelson here.

Today's episode is a reminder that you get to choose where you focus your attention.

If you don't choose on purpose, your brain will likely choose the path of negativity.

I'm using examples from my own life to help you become more aware of what you're choosing, and to give you some other options.

This episode is not about what you think it is about.

It has nothing to do with what your body looks like on the outside.

It has everything to do with how you connect with Heaven.

Living in Revelation by Elder David A. Bednar

The title of this episode should probably come with a *wink, wink.

Listen, if I knew the secret to making our kids do exactly what we want them to do, I'd sell it and be a millionaire.

But that isn't really how it works, and it's not actually the plan.

We don't have the power to control other people. Even small people.

So asking how we can "fix" our kids' behaviors is not really the right question to be asking.

A better question is "Who do I want to be when my kid is behaving this way?"

Today's episode is inspired by President Russell M. Nelson's most  recent general conference talk.

I also refer to his talk from 2016 entitled "Joy and Spiritual Survival."

It is a reminder that the best is yet to come for the world as a whole, and also for you personally!

Quote by Madeiline L'Engle:

"We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."

Today's episdoe is intended to help you feel peaceful about your parenting efforts, even if your child has not mastered everything you have taught.

I have three things for you to keep in mind:

1. Parenting is a work of planting seeds
2. Waiting counts as work
3. We have plenty of time

A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells by Henry B. Eyring

My old blog post here.

When life gets confusing or overwhelming, it's always good to go back to the basics, and make sure the most important things are taken care of first.

The same is true in parenting. When things get confusing or overwhelming and you don't know what to do, it may be time to take a break from all the correcting you're trying to do and go back to the basics.

How is your connection with that child? Is your relationship good enough that their heart is open to your help?

Today I'm sharing a few things that have been helpful for me in improving my relationships with kids in difficult stages.

Book I reference: The Power of Moments

Today I'm sharing a less-than-stellar parenting moment I had recently.

I'm also sharing the tool that I use to turn those moments into valuable, relationship building moments.

HOPE day tickets here