The Joyful Life

I am excited to share a great way to reduce anxiety with you today and it is through service.

We will talk about why serving can calm our anxious minds down.

There are actually studies that found that people who serve regularly have lower levels of anxiety and depression than those who do not serve regularly. 

"29 Gifts" by Cami Walker

We are talking today about the power we can bring into our lives when we trust God.  You may be thinking- wait I already trust God, so why would she do an episode on this.  

When you hear some of the concepts in this episode you will get excited about how trusting God can help you feel so much better about what is happening in your family.  

I will share some of the ways that trusting the Lord can significantly reduce anxiety, for you and your children, and bring peace into your life.

“Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.”—President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come Join with Us.” Oct. 2013, General Conference)

⁠https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng⁠

D&C 98:37

Psalm 2:12

“The Hope of Eternal Love,” Elder Henry B. Eyring, August 2016

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2016/08/the-hope-of-eternal-family-love?lang=eng

“The Atonement and Faith,” Ensign, Apr. 2010, 30.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2010/04/the-atonement-and-faith?lang=eng

Wendy Watson Nelson, "The Heavens are Open," pg. 6.

D&C 122:7

President Russel M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 86

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2005/10/jesus-christ-the-master-healer?lang=eng

Lucy Mack Smith, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/lucy-mack-smith-a-faithful-witness?lang=eng

Today's topic on fear is a game changer.  

We are going to talk about what happens when we parent from a place of fear.

“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” D&C 38:30

“The command to ‘fear not’ is found ninety-six times in the scriptures.

That is a total of 149 admonitions from the Lord.” (“The Second Coming of the Lord,” pg 18, Gerald Lund).

“Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.

Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith.

To do anything well requires effort.”

(President Russel M. Nelson, “Christ is Risen;  Faith in Him Will Move Mountains, April 2021)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/49nelson?lang=eng

1 Tim 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith”

“Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness. Fear is the antithesis [opposite] of faith. It is corrosive in its effects, even deadly” (“God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear,” Ensign, Oct. 1984, 2). 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/10/god-hath-not-given-us-the-spirit-of-fear?lang=eng

"I Can Sleep When the Wind Blows," Shayne. Bowen, BYU Speeches, November 13, 2018

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/shayne-m-bowen/i-can-sleep-when-wind-blows/

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/president-nelson-and-the-burning-falling-airplane?lang=eng

“God Hath Not Given Us the Spirit of Fear,” Ensign, Oct. 1984. 

President Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,”  April 2023, General Conference.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/58nelson?lang=eng

Bob Proctor, “Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life,” Pg. 129

Thanks for being here today! I’m excited about today’s topic - gratitude and the impact it can have on anxiety.

We are going to discuss how gratitude can physically and mentally impact our bodies and how it helps us feel less anxious in our daily lives.

We will also talk about how an attitude of gratitude can impact others in a positive way.

Elder Dieter H. Uchtdorf “A Higher Joy,” April 2024, General Conference.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/35uchtdorf?lang=eng

https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2021/11/practicing-gratitude-better-health-and-well-being#:~:text=%22Expressing%20gratitude%20can%20positively%20change%20your%20brain%2C%22%20says,those%20positive%20feelings%20of%20pleasure%2C%20happiness%2C%20and%20well-being.%22

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/feel-good-hormones-how-they-affect-your-mind-mood-and-body

Elder David A. Bednar, “Pray Always,” October 2008, General Conference.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/pray-always?lang=eng

President Russel M. Nelson, The Healing Power of Gratitude, November 20, 2020

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/inspirational-messages/2020-11-1101-president-russell-m-nelson-on-the-healing-power-of-gratitude-subtitled-1080p?lang=eng 

Today we are talking about envy.

We will discuss how envy is linked to anxiety and practical steps to reduce both.

“Atlas of the Heart,” Brené Brown, pg. 25-27

“There are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt--and certainly not to feel envious--when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those. Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is--downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment!”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2012-08-9631-envy?lang=eng

“The way to get out of the competition trap is to be authentic.” (“The Almanack of Naval Ravikant,” Naval Ravikant, pg 78)

Today I am going to talk about how changing a paradigm can have a huge impact on reducing anxiety.  

We will talk about what a paradigm is and how there is a specific paradigm that causes so many people misery, one that when you understand it, you can begin to change this paradigm and mental health will improve.

“Paradigms are a multitude of habits passed down from generation to generation, and they manifest themselves in many ways.  Paradigms are the way you view yourself, the world, and opportunity.  They are how you approach change and challenges.  Once you realize that ALL of your behavior is controlled by paradigms, the way you look at the entire world will change.”

This is Sandy Gallagher's definition from “Change Your Paradigm, Change Your life,” by Bob Proctor, pg. Viii

"Return From Tomorrow," by George Richie

 2 Nephi 2:26-27

“We cannot blame circumstances or others for a decision to act contrary to God’s commandments.” 

(“Be One With Christ,” Quinton L. Cook, General Conference, April 2024).

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/27cook?lang=eng

“The Joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” 

“Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Russel M. Nelson, General Conference, October 2016).

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng

“Choose to Trust the Lord,”Michalyn Steele, June 25, 2019, BYU Speeches).

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/michalyn-steele/choose-to-trust-the-lord/

Today's topic Holding Space came to me as I was talking with a friend about her child.  She was telling me about a distressing conversation she had with her daughter and how she didn’t know how to respond.  The concept of holding space is a very helpful place to start when someone is upset.  

Today I am going to explain the concept of holding space and how holding space can:

Relieve the internal tension that contributes to anxiety and how holding space fosters a safe, calm and accepting environment.

The benefit of holding space is that it can help reduce anxiety.

Today we are talking about how curiosity can reduce anxiety in ourselves and with our children. 

Curiosity is a simple tool we can use that can improve relationships in our families and with friends.

Curiosity also has the ability to strengthen us. 

Thank you for being here- you are going to love what you hear today.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey, pg. 239

“Good leaders ask great questions that inspire others to dream more, think more, learn more, do more, and become more.”  John C. Maxwell

Alma ch. 59-62

“We do not need to ask unhelpful questions or state the obvious. Most people who are struggling know that they are struggling. We should not be judgmental; our judgment is neither helpful nor welcome, and it is most often ill-informed.”

(“The Powerful Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ,” Dale G. Renlund, April 2024 General Conference)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/43renlund?lang=eng

In today's episode we are talking about our future selves. 

Anxiety can often stem from uncertainty about the future. When you have a clear vision of your future self, you are able to reduce anxiety because you have given yourself direction and purpose.  Knowing who you want to become helps ground your present actions and decisions and this reduces anxiety. 

You may know who you would like to be, but maybe you can’t figure out how to become that person.  Or you may not even think it’s possible to become a better version of yourself. 

We can see this in ourselves and in our children. 

Today we will talk about how to become who you want to be and how to live from that space.

We will talk about how we can help our children become their best selves as well. 

This episode is all about how to achieve what is possible in our lives.

This is a fun topic to discuss because life is so full of great possibilities.  

Today we are talking about love and the power it has to make positive changes.  

We will also discuss why we always want to choose to love above every other option.

And how choosing to love reduces anxiety and brings great results.

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/arun-gandhi/reflections-peace/ Arun Gandhi, BYU Speeches “Reflections of Peace,” 1999.