Creating a Good Life

Guys.  I think I'm addicted to blogging.  Just about every day I think of something new I could post about.  I don't feel so bad taking the time to do it right now despite all the things I should be doing, however.  Let me just fill you in as to why.
Today I had to go to classes and somehow still fit in the time to study and possibly take a midterm before work. I went straight to the Cougareat after class to study for my Creating a Good Life Through Recreation class (which I think is ironic since we discussed how testing crushes your intrinsic motivation to actually learn...).  Anyways, so I went to study, was super productive and then at about 1:15 I thought it was best to start heading to my Intro to TR class.  I made it to the RB stairs only to have this sudden realization that my class starts at 12:30 not 1:30.  After checking the time in disbelief and panic several times, feeling a little disoriented by not knowing what to do or go next, I just starting laughing (thus adding to my aurora of insanity probably perceived by all that were so fortunate as to pass me).  You have to know that I never  miss class, not even intentionally, let alone unintentionally.  I think this is what stress and having an on-call job does to me. I went on to take my test, because I just honestly couldn't take studying for it anymore.  I did as well as I could have anticipated.

Now for the somewhat related lesson of this post:

"The true meaning of being alive is not just to feel happy, but to experience the full range of human emotions." - Edward Deci  

I have noticed this semester more than ever before that it's okay to feel emotions other than happiness.  I've had some not so great days, and although I can find the good in them I find joy in knowing that I am capable of being in a state other than that of elation.   This wasn't the case at first - I tried to suppress them and act like they weren't there, because I'm supposed to be happy all the time, right? WRONG. It's okay to feel down - it's part of our mortal existence.  If we avoided every hard thing that we were faced with, then we would have nothing to show for our lives - we would never improve or gain strength or courage.  I had previously wrongly associated unhappiness with being spiritually unfit, you know, the whole "wickedness never was happiness" deal. This is not always true, however, as being unhappy does not have to be directly associated with sin - that type of unhappiness is self-inflicted. As long as you are experiencing a perhaps unfamiliar range of emotions, don't be afraid of them for fear and faith are incompatible.  Have faith that the hard times will pass.  Facing trials we are given with faith enables us to realize our divine potential when we succeed in overcoming them.  If we avoid hard things, great things will inevitably avoid us.  Sometimes things may not work out the way we want them to or plan for them to, but that does not indicate that we are unworthy to receive certain blessings, or that our Heavenly Father does not love us.  Instead, we should think of it as a means by which we can learn about ourselves.  His plan is always better than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves.  In the end, I can promise you that as long as you allow for Him to guide you in all your endeavors you will have absolutely nothing to complain about in the end.  Life can't always go the way we want it to, for Heavenly Father's will always trumps ours.  These experiences will be ones we look back on as examples of when our faith has carried us through difficult things.  Feeling discouraged is not an emotion only the weak encounter.  

Think about it.  What is our purpose on this earth?  To gain a physical body, right?  Consider this scripture  found in D&C Section 138 (The context of this is a revelation given to Joseph F Smith concerning Christ immediately following the crucifixion, where upon ascending into Heaven He visited the spirits of those who were awaiting their Resurrection):

50.  For the dead looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.

You would think that this would be the opposite.  Our bodies do indeed pose some limitations, but without our physical bodies, we lose the ability to express our emotions tangibly.  We would not be able to hug, laugh, or cry.  I don't know how our spirits experience emotions, but think about a baby.  When they are first brought into this world, it is the first encounter they have with the ability to express their emotions, the first time they are able to cry.  Ultimately there is something you need to understand: Satan is jealous of our bodies and our abilities to have concrete expressions of our emotions. Let us not forsake our bodies and the ability they give us to feel emotions, even if they are not always the most comfortable ones to experience.  I don't know if this is doctrinally correct, but I believe that Satan can tempt us to suppress our mortal experiences - we shouldn't feel guilty for feeling emotions our bodies are made to feel - we were given the opportunity to have mortal bodies knowing full well that we would go through hard times - our emotions can be considered a means by which we identify them.  No person has ever made it through this life without feeling sorrow, not even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In short, love your body.  Love your mortal abilities and the lack thereof.  Be happy for the capacities you have to feel happiness and pure joy as well as those not so pleasant emotions - they allow for growth and more importantly they let us be grateful for the good times we experience.  But most of all, remember to be thankful for all that God has done for you. Do not forget the tender mercies He provides, for those are the constant reminders of His love for each and every one of us.  Be realistic about your expectations, and don't become too discouraged when we cannot be perfect at everything we try, although perfection is our ultimate hope.  In the meantime, it's okay to have bad days, but do not fall into the rut of discouragement, for that too is Satan's way of dragging us to His level.  Rely on your Lord and Savior, for He is the one that can remove all our doubts and sorrows, all we have to do is have faith in His Atonement.  He loves you, and I love you.  Remember who you are and what you stand for. :)

"There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.  My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not.  Be of good cheer.  The future is as bright as your faith." - President Thomas S Monson