Stop, Drop, and Try to Understand

When you stop saying unkind words, drop your assumptions, and try to understand, you can save others and yourself from unnecessary hurt and regret. The advice to “seek first to understand, then to be understood” is one of the key habits in Stephen Covey’s famous book The 7 Habits of… Continue reading

Unleashing Our Potential Energy

Just as we all have the potential to make the most of each day, we also have the potential to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. But how do we do this? Have you ever lain on your bed at the end of a long day and realized you didn’t… Continue reading

An Unexpected Visitor

Sun shining behind blades of wheat.

During a difficult time for my family, an unexpected visitor brought us hope when we needed it most. Who is my light at the end of the tunnel? I could give you the standard answers—my mother, my father, my boyfriend, my bishop. You probably wouldn’t expect it to be the… Continue reading

He Nourishes Us according to Our Needs

Green trees

When you seem to be the only one around with trials and setbacks, how can you still trust in God’s plan? When my husband and I got married, we received several succulent plants as gifts. Although we’d never had our own plants before, we’d heard succulents were the easiest plants… Continue reading

Moving Forward in Spite of Fear

Person walking in street in front of archway

Each of us faces fear in life; the best way to overcome our fear is by moving forward with faith in God. We’ve all experienced fear of the unknown at some point. When life hands us something that’s difficult or uncertain, we often feel fear or worry, even if we… Continue reading

The People-Pleaser’s Guide to Saying No

"No" on red background

Are you a people-pleaser? Do you have a hard time saying no or setting boundaries? This one’s for you (and for me). Do you ever find yourself exhausted or stretched too thin from all your responsibilities? You’re not alone. If you’re like me, your eyes are often too big for… Continue reading

Force Quit the Things Freezing Your Life

Person typing at Mac computer

Repentance can be a joyful choice when we choose to regulate our lives with the task manager provided by God. Have you ever encountered the frustrating experience of an unresponsive computer? If you have, you probably know that pressing Control-Alt-Delete on a PC (or Command-Option-Escape on a Mac) is the… Continue reading

Waiting on a Green Light from God

Taxi cab traffic

Allowing the Lord to be our guide on our eternal journey home will help us navigate the unexpected stops and detours of life. The week my husband was in the hospital with a ruptured appendix was one of the longest weeks of my life. Sleep was always out of reach,… Continue reading

Ordinary Wonder Women

Wonder women in comic form

Sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones who’ve faced our particular challenges. Luckily, we can look to examples of wise, strong, and courageous women who have overcome enormous challenges themselves. When I was younger, the women in my ward guided, served, and loved me with astounding strength and wisdom.… Continue reading

If You Want to Be My Lover, You’ve Got to Be My Friend

Friends spelled out in scrabble letters

Dating isn’t just a time to fall in love; it’s a time to strengthen friendships. Everybody knows somebody—or knows somebody who knows somebody—with a story about a couple who got engaged after only dating for a few months, weeks, or even days. That quick jump between dating and marriage can… Continue reading