I don’t know about you, but I am one who loves Mondays. In my mind, it’s my chance to start over, my chance to accomplish whatever my heart desires. I can’t start on Friday? That would mess everything up. Monday is Magical. If I had a graph of my life, Monday’s would be the healthiest eating, the most scriptures read, and the most workouts!
We are almost to the New Year…which is a Monday on steroids. The New Year resolutions seem to stick a little longer. I can usually make it a few weeks…maybe even a month before looking forward to the next Monday.
This has really got me thinking…. If I already have Monday’s to lose weight, eat healthy, read more books, save more money…then my New Year resolutions need to look different. Our family has decided to go a different direction for this next year. Our resolutions are going to help us “Gaze upward, Look inward, Reach outward, and Press forward.” -Thomas S Monson
We have decided to make resolutions with an eternal perspective.
“Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences” – Richard G. Scott
When we make goals we always decide what the. Big goal is, and then make goals that lead up to that.
What about the Bigger goal? The Biggest goal? This year we are going to start with the BIGGEST GOAL! Then break it down from there. So that we can understand how important the things we do here on earth are for our eternal progress. This mortality is an important step in the process of eternity….it’s not just a holding spot for us to vacation in figi. We have growth that is necessary for our eternal happiness.
How does this change New Years resolutions? It’s all about the perspective.
“Perspective: Is the way we see things when we look at them from a certain distance and it helps us appreciate their value.” -Rafael E. Pino
For example, I have loved my gratitude prayers of November, as I change my prayers to gratitude for that month, I find my self feeling blessed beyond measures. I’m hoping that as we turn our resolution toward others, we will find ourselves improving at a greater rate. This mortality is so focused on self, that sometimes the self gets bogged down. Even with my “exercise and weight loss”, as I “fail” a little…I just give up and go back to old habits. But if we can understand the big picture….we can then not give up.,.because it’s not really about the way we look …on the eternal perspective.
For example…age is in inevitable. I really thought I could beat it, but my eye sight is blurry, my muffin too is larger, and my bones creak. The real purpose in fighting the health battle is to live better longer.
Those with good health have many wishes. Those with poor health have only one
-mom
President Russell M. Nelson told us to take our vitamin pills for its going to be exciting! He wasn’t just playing around…we need our health and strength to help the Lord accomplish His purposes.
“We’re witnesses to a process of restoration,” said the prophet. “If you think the Church has been fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come. … Wait till next year. And then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It’s going to be exciting.” -President Russell M. Nelson
Health is a constant battle…and it is always on my resolutions list as well as my Monday restart. This year I’m going about it a little different and I’m encouraging my kids to do the same. I’m going to set physical goals that help others accomplish what they aspire to do.
- Help Mark lose 20 pounds (my husband)
- Run a 5k with Annika
- Fix Paleo (emphasis in veggies) for my family
This next year I want to focus outside of my home. I get so busy with my own 8 people ..that I struggle In Reaching out to others. My goals for that are..
- invite a different family over for dinner and games once a month
- Pray daily who needs me , and respond immediately
I’m hoping my kids can find ways to make their resolutions focus on others and on strengthen their spiritual muscles. It’s hard with kids, because if it’s going to stick it needs to be their goal…their idea. I’m hoping that as we sit down together and plan our resolutions, I can be the example for them.
If you desire to make a difference In This world you must be different then the world. – Elaine S Dalton
I live 2 1/2 hours from the temple, and my husband’s not a member? Planning a trip to the temple is extremely difficult. I plan to go once a month this next year. I am pre-planning on obstacles to come in my way….until the adversary realizes…I’M SERIOUS! Then he’ll go pester someone else!… hopefully.
I appreciate the example of my parents when they lived over 2 hours from the temple. They too set a goal to make it to the temple once a month, every month on the day that they were suppose to go, something would happen that caused them to have to stay home. As they prayed about their goal, they decided that no matter what happened they were going to the temple. The next month came and their temple day arrived, as they got ready to leave my mom ran into the door and broke her toe. She was in a lot of pain, but they both knew that this was just another tactic from the friendly tester (Satan) to stop them from temple work. So they went to the temple. The next month followed with the same pattern…different obstacle. After a couple of months of not allowing the adversary stop them, they were able to make it to the temple once a month problem free.
“Establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple. For those of you who don’t live near a temple, I invite you to study prayerfully about temples in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before” – President Russell M. Nelson
Now is a good time to focus on what matters most. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf
I’m going to plan a genealogy goal…this is my biggest weakness! I’m diving in this year and hope to get to a point to where I can aid someone else!
Help gather Israel on both sides of the veil. This gathering is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today! -President Russell M. Nelson
My ministering partner is my daughter…how awesome is that!! We are going to pump up our prayers for our families and be on call for the Lord!
A couple years agonI set a goal to be 100% in visiting teaching for the year. Once I set my mind to it, it was easy. My partner and I finished 100%…and loved every minute. Those ladies are still some of my closest friends. Setting the goal is half the battle!
God does watch over us and does notice us, but it is usually through someone else that he meets our needs. -Spencer W. Kimball
Let’s make this year different!
Let’s fight a little harder to be a little better as we stay focused on our resolutions.
As we reflect on the value of resolving to do better, let us determine to discipline ourselves to carefully select the resolutions we make, to consider the purpose for making them, and finally, to make commitments for keeping them and not letting any obstacle stop us. Let us remind ourselves at the beginning of each day that we can keep a resolution just for that day. As we do this it gets easier and easier until it becomes a habit.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Elder D. Todd Christofferson
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