(THIS POST IS DEFINITELY Not ABOUT HOUSE CLEANING)
If you are like me you might have a closet somewhere in your home that takes the brunt of all those things you are in a hurry to put somewhere and they don’t seem to have a place of their own. Does that sound familiar???
Every so often I end up taking everything out and starting anew, putting only certain things back that really belong there. Then decisions have to be made about what to do with the rest. Well some items get discarded or donated, some go to my adult children, and a few things end up in my basement because… who knows, they might become useful at some future date, Right? (PLEASE KEEP READING THIS DEFINITELY ISN’T ABOUT HOUSEWORK!)
As this closet of mine has been cleaned over the years I have recognized this process of sorting, organizing and discarding as something I could adopt and apply to my own personal progress. Each of us come into this world, pure, innocent and untarnished. But soon after our miraculous birth, life happens. Over the course of our mortal lives numerous experiences come our way. Some of them are great and rewarding while others may be negative, harsh and even damaging to our emotional and mental well being. All of these experiences positive or negative either have little effect on us, a big effect or no effect at all. As we grow and mature we begin to decide for ourselves what course we want to pursue, what we believe and don’t believe, and most importantly whom we want to become.
Unfortunately for me it took losing my spouse to cancer and feeling completely alone with no desire to continue before I began to realize just how overly stuffed my mind and heart were with negative feelings and thoughts. Just like my overly stuffed closet!!! My emotional and mental well being were at a very ugly place. I knew that if I was to survive and learn to stand on my own two feet without my husband physically by my side that I needed to somehow shed the heavy load that I had carried most of my life.
It took encouragement from others before I was ready to seek the help I needed. I know that my Father in Heaven put the right people in my life to help me. This process was one of the hardest and most painful things I have ever done, but with the most rewarding results. Part of healing was talking openly about negative things that had happened to me, excepting compassion where compassion was due and letting go or discarding those things from my thought process. I know that after I did all that I could do….. healing has come slowly and quietly but also in a very profound way through the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. I feel like a new person. I feel lighter and happier. I feel my Saviors love for me!
If you struggle with low self esteem, fear, jealousy, lonliness, or depression…. ask yourself, “Why do I feel this way”. Face those feelings inside of you and ask, “is this something I want inside of me? Does it do me good or harm? Is it useful? Can it bring me lasting peace and happiness or should it be discarded?” Getting rid of all the lies, half truths and distorted feelings inside of you will feel like a great weight lifted. Only keep those things inside that are true to who you are and what you believe! Ask others to help you! YOU are unique! Be proud of who YOU are!!! No one can offer this world what YOU can! Comments are welcome.