When Life Feels Heavy – Look For The Light
/I don’t know about you, but life has felt heavy this past week. Between health issues and the uncertainty of what’s going on in the world, it’s been a lot. It’s easy to get caught up in all the “what-ifs” in life that may or may not come to fruition. When my heart feels heavy and life feels dark, I remind myself how blessed I am. I know the things with my health can and will get better. We are blessed to have better healthcare in the United States than the majority of people in other parts of the world. And when it comes to what’s going on in the world, I constantly go back to my 97-year-old mother-in-law, Eileen’s advice. And that is, “Is it ok if I just don’t worry about it?” The answer to that is yes! Once we do all that we can do on our own, there is no sense in fretting and worrying about things we have absolutely no control over.
This is a woman who has overcome fear, lived through the Great Depression, World War II, The Korean War, Vietnam and all the unrest that came from that in the 1970’s, and many other things up to and including Covid. When in doubt, look to the wisdom and counsel of our elders. They have lived through a lot and know a few things about life. The sacrifices of those who have gone before us, are the reason we are blessed to live the lives we do today.
Throughout history, people have gone through difficult times, and we are living proof that life goes on, tribulations come and go, and hopefully we are better people from the trials and struggles we endure. So even through the uncertainty, the LIGHT is always there if we look for it. We don’t all share the same beliefs and thought processes, and that’s ok! It’s a blessing to be different. What’s not ok is to put others down for their beliefs and opinions. The important thing is to love and respect one another and be a LIGHT to those who are struggling. We can have differences of opinion and still be friends. If the conversations are too emotionally charged, change the subject to something different. Kindness and Love will always bring LIGHT.
Fear is a natural response to uncertainty and adversity, but it doesn’t have to dictate our choices or define our future. Here are a few of my favorite quotes regarding fear and how to overcome it.
“Live by faith and not by fear.” ~ Quentin L. Cook
“Fear is the thief of dreams.” ~ Brian Krans
“As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our convictions.” ~ Thomas S. Monson
“A decision made from fear is always the wrong decision.” – Tony Robbins
“In a world that so desperately needs all the light it can get, please do not minimize the eternal light God put in your soul before this world was.” ~ Jeffrey R. Holland
“Fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.” ~ Dale Carnegie
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson
“He knows of your wants, your needs, and your fears. The Lord is all powerful. Trust Him” ~ Dallin H. Oaks
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
The challenge this week is to look for ways to be a positive Light-Giver in the midst of fear, uncertainty and turmoil. When we focus on the positive, circumstances don’t look so bleak. So let’s go about doing good to others. It can be as simple as a smile, holding the door open for someone, picking up the tab for a police officer, firefighter, EMT, or military personnel, or leaving a little bigger tip than usual.
The important thing is there’s always something we can do to make the world a better place . . . even if it’s a small thing. When we add up all the small things, those small things turn into big things that bring about change, acceptance, positivity, happiness, and LIGHT. May God Bless Us, wherever we may live.
I hope you have a fantastic week!
Love Ya, Les 😊