Be Kind To Others And Ourselves

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend Time Out For Women.  This is a two-day event filled with speakers and musicians prepared to uplift and inspire.  There were many amazing topics covered but for me the theme was to be kinder to others and to ourselves.  We can do this with the help of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He that turned water into wine can certainly turn your weakness into strength.

An inside peak at my note page on those particular topics

Embrace all

Imperfections are part of the whole package.  The things that make you crazy about someone are usually also some of the very things that you love about them.  Embrace the whole package.  Don't pick out the parts because it doesn't work that way.

Don't judge  or begrudge.  Just serve.  Just help.

1 Corinthians 13:3 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity for mankind and for ourselves.  We need to have love for Christ, accept love from Christ, and try our best to love like Christ.

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility."  -Henry Longfellow

 John 13:34-35 

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

You know you are converted by how you treat other people.  How would I be judged if that was the only criteria?  

"We have a great responsibility to our husbands.  I know it is hard to believe, but almost before you can turn around the children will be gone and you will be alone with him.  You had better be sure that you are developing the kind of love and friendship that will be delightful and enduring.  Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important.  Encourgage him.  Be kind.  It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive.  Be cheerful.  Don't be a whiner." -Marjorie Hinckley

Be nice to Matt.  Make sure he knows I love him and appreciate him.  Don't criticize when he is helping.

Love yourself

Remember who you are; you are a daughter of God.

Live up to who you are.

We may not be the best Pinterest Mom out there;  maybe we aren't craft mom, or outdoors mom, or "fill in the blank mom" but God gave you the kids he gave you knowing the Mom that you are and knowing your gifts and strengths.  You are the RIGHT Mom for Joshua and Nathan.

Don't compare yourself to others.  

Be kinder to other mom's choices and be confident in our own choices.  We get together and discuss our individual choices in regards to school, medicine, diapers, activities, etc.  We compete with who is the busiest and therefore superior or we compete with who is the least busy and therefore superior.  If someone is doing it differently we judge or we feel judged.  Give everyone the benefit of believing that they aren't judging you and give everyone the courtesy of not judging.  We are all different moms with different abilities, different situations, and with different kids.  Our choices will be different and that is OK!  Respect their path and their journey and just assume that everyone else is doing the same for you.

There isn't a magical number of pieces in the success/failure pie.  Someone else's success/failure doesn't add to or take away from our own.  Just be happy for them or mourn with them.

Be Kind and Forgive and Forget

Always extend forgiveness and then forget.  Sometimes we say that we can forgive but we simply can't forget.  This is false.  We should say we will forget and will forgive as soon as we can.  We then chase those thoughts out of our mind as soon as they enter just as you would any other impure thought.  Don't dwell and eventually you will be ready to forgive.

Clear our hearts and conscience of wrongdoing and offer others opportunities to do the same.  Allow people the opportunity to make things right; don't punish.

See people not their sins; strive to see people as Christ did

Be Kind To Myself By Striving To Be Happy

10 habits found through research

Happy people try intentionally to be happy.
Happy people surround themselves with happy people.  Dump the Debbie Downers.
Happy people spend money on others.
Happy people have deep "in-person" conversations.
Happy people laugh.
Happy people use music to brighten the day.
Happy people exercise and eat healthy.
Happy people unplug and go outside for 20 minutes a day.
Happy people get enough sleep.
Happy people take time to be still and quiet daily.

Only 10% of our happiness is based on current circumstances (except for in situations of extreme poverty) so if you are always the person that says, "When this changes then I will be happy" you are lying to yourself.

I loved every minute of Time Out.  There were so many other moments and thoughts than just these but as I summarized my learning I wanted to capture these thoughts into one post.  Be kind to others and be kind to yourself.