define your "non-negotiables... day 4

hmm... i woke up this morning knowing that today was going to be rough, not the best feeling first thing in the morning! i was a kinda tired, even though i got to sleep in til 7. and i was already wanting to eat breakfast, which in my case isn't good because the earlier i start eating, the more i eat during the day. i was definitely nervous about how munchy i would be throughout today. it's normal for me to continuously snack in the office or just whenever i'm sitting and doing nothing. i've been really good this week, and don't want to revert back to bad habits. thankfully, it wasn't as bad as i was expecting. i did eat more than i have this week and worked out less, but its still nothing compared to my "old-self". so somewhat of a small victory, but i definitely have a long way to go!

institute inspiration...
i love brother norby's class! it is such a great way to start my morning! we are still in Alma 39-40, and one of the scriptures he focused on was 39:9...

"Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things."
*this scripture cross references with Matthew 16:24 and Mosiah 3:19

the phrase that we focused on was "cross yourself", meaning cut and get rid of the natural man and human lusts out of your life, gain self-control and self-mastery... which of course perfectly coincides with my "project" aka life! (don't you love how lessons, talks, and scriptures always pertain to your life) so going along with "putting off the natural man" and "cross yourself", brother norby brought up "non-negotiables". what are your defined "non-negotioables"? what are the things in our life that no matter what, we won't budge or settle? this got me thinking about my "non-negotiables" that no matter the circumstance, i will not give up or settle... temple marriage, the word of wisdom (drugs-alcohol-smoking-caffeine addiction), weekly church and temple attendance, tithing, just to name a few... it made me nervous and excited to really decide on and set some specific standards for myself and to commit to them forever! its like, what can people, more importantly Heavenly Father, rely on me for and always expect of me?

President Spencer W. Kimball said about deciding to decide about the "non-negotiables"...
"Now may I make a recommendation? Develop discipline of self so that, more and more, you do not have to decide and redecide what you will do when you are confronted with the same temptation time and time again. You need only to decide some things once. How great a blessing it is to be free of agonizing over and over again regarding a temptation. To do such is time-consuming and very risky."
"Likewise, my dear young friends, the positive things you will want to accomplish need be decided upon only once--like going on a mission and living worthily in order to get married in the temple--and then all other decisions related to these goals can fall into line. Otherwise, each consideration is risky, and each equivocation may result in error. There are some thing Latter-day Saints do and other things we just don't do. The sooner you take a stand, the taller you will be!"

this was only a part of the discussion, but it was another great lesson on self-mastery, putting off the natural man, and deciding what my "non-negotiables" are for eternity.... who am I and what do I stand for?!

work-out...
oh man, i was so not motivated today, unfortunately! i got 30 minutes on the bike in which is pathetic, but ya know, there's always tomorrow right!

food is good...
7:30am- bran cereal w/milk and banana
9:00am- grapefruit
12:00pm- chicken noodle soup, 10 saltine crackers, crystal light
4:00pm- apple and 10 saltine crackers
6:00pm- turkey, lettuce, and mustard; banana and peanut butter
8:00pm- banana and peanut butter, sugar-free chocolate pudding, sugar-free chocolate milk
h20- 12 cups

sweet simple acts...
i was walking out of institute this morning, and i pushed on a double-door to leave while a girl was coming in the other door, and it wouldn't budge. i tried like 3 times, feeling like an idiot yet laughing at myself cause i couldn't open the blasted door. and the sweet girl, instead of just walking away thinking i was a complete idiot (which is true, i am and idiot) she was like, "doors can be so dumb sometimes." i think i was just so surprised cause usually people wouldn't even acknowledge the situation, but she did and i just though it was nice of her to say something to help me feel not so stupid.

tender mercy...
sam has been on a "leave of absence" from volleyball for the past 2 weeks, and no one has any idea what's going on or when he will be back. i'm fortunate enough to talk to him and text him every now and then, and i am just hoping he really does just need a break and that nothing serious is going on. but anyways, the girls have been having mixed feelings about there head coach being gone for so long with no indication of when he'll return, so i finally talked with them about it. i basically let them share their feelings of concern, worry, and abandonment, and just explained to them how hard sam works all of the time and is constantly worrying about them, and even this mighty man needs to back-off, take a break, and regroup. it was a needed convo and the girls responded well and had a great practice. i'm just grateful Heavenly Father was with me (yes even to have a simple chat with the team), and that He is helping keep us together and blessing the girls with patience for having me as their temporary leader.

i'm so grateful that even though i felt very unmotivated physically today, i was blessed with great experiences and learned more about the gospel and how to apply it to me specifically. the gospel is truly in everything, and i would be no where without it.

"wickedness never was happiness"... righteousness never leads to misery

jakers... 19 days :)