12 Simple Steps to Happiness

IAT = I am thankful

If I remember, :-) I'll start each post with 5 things I'm thankful for, because the book I'm reviewing says people who express gratitude for at least 10 weeks experience significantly more happiness. I've been doing it for years, but here we go.

1. Air conditioning!
2. Paved roads.
3. Philosopher's Notes.
4. Craigslist.
5. Unwrecked cars.

photo by Andrea Zampatti

OK, so I am not really going to review a book. I'm going to refer you to one through a program I LOVE with all that I am. It's called Philosopher's Notes. 100s of books at your fingertips summarized in six pages, with all the highlights of the Big Ideas. Love, love, love. So, I have them in pdf and mp3s and cds. It's a long story how Brian, graced me with a lot of it. But I'm grateful he did.

So, I was listening to the note for The How of Happiness, by SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY. Sounds like a great book from the note. But I'm not going to summarize all of the big ideas from the book; just one. Well 12 I guess. It's been scientifically proven that certain activities increase our happiness. Side note: Only 10% of our happiness comes from life circumstances, so if you spend most of your time and energy trying to increase your wealth, attractiveness and other nonsense, it only has a negligible and a temporary impact on your well-being.

But here are 12 things you can do, that over time will significantly contribute to happiness. And don't forget writing 5 things you are grateful for every day.

1. Expressing Gratitude
2. Cultivating Optimism
3. Avoiding Overthinking and Social Comparison
4. Practicing Acts of Kindness
5. Nurturing Social Relationships
6. Developing Strategies for Coping
7. Learning to Forgive
8. Increasing Flow Experiences
9. Savoring Life’s Joys
10. Committing to Your Goals
11. Practicing Religion and Spirituality
12. Taking Care of Your Body: Meditation + Physical Activity + Acting Like a Happy Person

Some of those are just plain easy, so get started today. If you want the details, then I suggest you subscribe to Philosopher's Notes, or get the book, The How of Happiness. Try a few of the 12 steps and see if you are happier.

Warning HS*E*P...Me

IAT = I am thankful for my gifts and talents

So, in the last few years I have discovered some things about myself. A) My friends in the healing profession have labeled me an empath. That's the *E* part in the title. I feel like some people's definition of empathic is not as definitive as it could be. It's not just being able to relate to how someone feels in a given circumstance, because of your own experiences. For some, for me, it's actually feeling the emotions of the other person. This comes in handy when I am helping someone overcome those emotions with EFT. It also can be quite distressing when the emotions are high.

http://healing.about.com/cs/empathic/a/uc_empathtraits.htm

B) I have also come to believe I may be a highly sensitive person or HSP. I haven't spent a lot of time reading about it, but surface information confirms, and a little test I took on one website seemed to agree. Grand. Highly Sensitive, Emotional, Feeling. I now understand why the last two years I have gone into full blown retreat. Stay home, keep to myself unless helping someone, and just lay low. It FEELS better. And I can get along in life better. One article I read said HSPs should carry a warning label. Haha. And to be just a little different. I am an extroverted HSP. So, imagine how it feels to be extroverted naturally, but driven to keep to yourself for the sake of your inner world. Probably why I throw myself into new experiences.

http://healing.about.com/od/empathic/a/HSP_hallowes.htm

I like the mention of gifts of the HSP in this article.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/03/28/5-gifts-of-being-highly-sensitive/

So, there is a little snapshot inside of my world. The girl with no skin. :-) (It's in one of the articles)

The POWER of I AM--I WILL be

IAT = I am thankful

A few years ago, I was introduced to a simple idea. I think it was through Carol Tuttle's book, Remembering Wholeness. She pointed out that any time we use the words "I am", that we should choose carefully the words that follow, because the words that come next, are what we believe about ourselves, and what ultimately becomes our reality. So, if we often claim, "I am stupid," stupidity will become our reality. Yikes! The power of words is more than we can probably even realize. I wrote a little about that here.

And so, the words I want to focus on today, are the words, "I am." What do they really mean? The phrase "I Am that I Am," comes to mind. So, I thought I'd try to find out what that really means. When Moses asked God whom he should say sent him to the children of Israel, God replied, "I AM THAT I AM. Say I AM sent me." See Exodus 3: 14. What exactly does that mean? I am who I say I am? That's partly what I have thought the last few years. We can apply that to ourselves by saying, "when I say I am ________, I am _________." For example. When I say I am stupid, I am stupid.

Wiki says the literal interpretation is, I will be who I will be. Because asher, a hebrew word in the phrase, can mean that, who, which, or where, other meanings could include:

I will be that I will be
I will be who I will be
I will be which I will be
I will be where I will be

I don't know why that leaves me reeling. But to me it is God's testimony that we can count on Him in every situation. He will be THAT, WHO, WHICH, and WHERE He says. Wow! There is no one else we can really trust this way. In John, He tells us many of the things "I am." I AM the bread of Life. (John 6:35) I AM the light of the world. (John 8:12) I AM the door. (John 10:9) I AM the Good shepherd. (John 10:11) I AM the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25) I AM the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6) I AM the vine. (John 15:5) And because He is who He will be, He simply is all of that.

If we are children of the Most High, surely He wants us to strive to be like Him, so we can know Him. And He has set the example for us. Do we follow Him by being that, who, which, and where we say we will? If not, why not? We don't have to be perfect today. But we can try.

We use those words "I am" so loosely. Do we mean what we say behind it? I think those words are very creative and when we say them, they have the power to create what we speak into being. Especially if we say them repeatedly. James Allen says in relation to thought (which I believe is revealed in our words),

"Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err."

In Numbers 14: 28, we are told:

Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Please read that again! Let me paraphrase, "what YOU say, is what *I* will do to you. Wow! Makes me want to watch those words a little more closely. Especially the identifying, creative words, "I AM." So, I have been watching these very words very carefully the last few years, and changing my negative "I am" affirmations, to positive ones. Long ago, I drafted what I call, a Personal Proclamation. You can read about it here.  I've also added declarations recently. These are just a few chosen "I am" statements of things I hope to create in my life by focusing on them. I have a card with them stashed in my purse, pinned on my bathroom wall, in my vehicle, so I can say them when I have nothing else to do.

The inspiration for this post, was a friend, who used some pretty sad words about herself. I just couldn't let it pass. I encouraged her. I searched for something that would convey the power of "I am," and I found this Joel Olsteen sermon. And I loved it. I think it describes it really well. Check it out when you have 30 minutes. It's well worth it. Click below the picture.

The Power of I AM

A final thought, I read this amazing talk by now Elder Holland, then dean of religion at BYU. It occurs to me that if we are truly to be what we will be, we must rely on the TRUE I AM. By patterning our lives after His, we can become all he means us to be. And we will be what He would have us be.

The Beggar is Me

IAT = I am thankful

You know how you can read something a dozen times, and then for some reason, the 13th time, it has some kind of special meaning to you. Or you read something often and the meaning changes depending on your circumstance at the time. I've found that conference talks and scriptures are like that. Last week, I had that very experience. Because it was very personal, I'll leave some of the details out.

We read the following verses in Sunday School last week, from the Book of Mormon.

 16 And also, ye yourselves will ^asuccor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the ^bbeggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt ^asay: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all ^abeggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a ^aremission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his ^bSpirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with ^cjoy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

 21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to ^aimpart of the substance that ye have one to another.

 22 And if ye ^ajudge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your ^bcondemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life ^cbelongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

 23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are ^arich as pertaining to the things of this world.

I've read those verses many times. And I always look at me as me, and the beggar as the beggar. And I have tried over the years to "administer of my substance" when I could. But, I have not always been free of the internal chatter over the reasons I am "having" to give. Sigh. I'm hoping my most recent insights will help me to stop the chatter and give from the desire in my heart to do so.

So, recent events had me contemplating, reviewing, praying, and other things. These other things, put me in a very humble mode. And I made a request of a few people I know. The request is private. But those individual people were the only ones who could help me with the request I made. And in all but one situation, each person responded lovingly to my request, and I was very thankful.

And then, we read the verses about beggars in Sunday School. And it hit me square between the eyes. I'm a beggar. Yes, I have even read those verses THINKING about my position to my Savior and how I am a beggar before Him. But I didn't really FEEL about it. Those recent circumstances and requests to others, came with full force to my mind, and I suddenly related very personally to the beggar. I was deeply moved that and grateful that my Heavenly Father has never treated me as I have sometimes treated the beggars that have come across my path. My Father has never been stingy with me. Has never pointed out to me, that He "told me so" or that I got myself into the mess I am in. He simply meets my need when I make a request or ask him to impart of His substance to me.

And then I realized of course that every person in my life is also a beggar. And they may not be dressed in rags, or holding a sign, or even directly requesting of my substance. But, if I know someone has a need, and I can fulfill that need, and I don't, isn't it the same as if I have denied the beggar? We each are beggars in some circumstance. Perhaps we need physical care, emotional support, a simple uplift, or merely mercy or forgiveness. How does it feel when that is withheld? It feels awful.

What if we looked at each other as beggars in need? And we gave a smile when needed? Offered a hand when needed? Gave a word of encouragement when needed? Wouldn't the world be a better place? I believe it would.

And as often happens, when I come to such a realization, an opportunity presents itself to see if I get the lesson. Suffice it to say, a beggar of sorts came into my path while I was in Canada. Someone in need that I could help. I specifically heard the word beggar, in my mind. And I am happy I was able to take action. I'll never see them again or know if it helped. But, I will be looking for those opportunities more often. And I hope that the one request of mine that remains, will be met some day. If not, I know that there is Someone Else who can meet all my beggarly needs and requests. And I hope that I can be as generous as He when opportunities come my way to offer of my substance.

Random Musings of a 1st Grade Sub

Long ago, I got a degree in education. For a few years, I was a certified teacher. But I was creating a family, so I chose to work and play at home with my children. On more than one occasion I used my teaching skills to home school, although I think parent is the only degree you need to do that.

The last three years, I've been a substitute in our local school district. I sub K-12. The most surprising thing I found, is that I really enjoy subbing for high school. I was terrified when I started. Seriously. And the bonus is, it's easy. Jr high is tougher, but you really earn your money in the primary and elementary grades. You'd better be on, or you'll lose them, and they'll eat your lunch.

The last two days I subbed for first grade. Here's some of what I discovered and experienced.

1st graders are full of wonder. How and when does wonder get squished out of us? Ok, maybe I'm still 6 at heart, because the hatching chicks in the other classroom and the caterpillars turning to chrysalisses in our class, completely fascinated me. I'm still trying to figure out how the caterpillars did it while we were in the room. I watched them like a hawk today and couldn't catch them. I seriously want to go next week and see the butterflies but I'll be in Canada dangit.

I giggled when the principal walked through the school yard with a huge box for the chicks and was mobbed by the primary kids who wanted to know what it was for and probably more importantly, whether they could play with it. Note to self, give 5yr old grandchildren a refrigerator box for Christmas. I'll be super grandma.

I had to wonder if any of my children went to school with no undies. Don't ask. I'm hoping the mother would be more on the mortified side than the clueless uncaring side.

I stifled a laugh when a darling girl on the playground approached me with a little handful of unknown treasure and asked me if she would get arrested for picking up trash. I assured her she would not and told her I thought she should get a good citizen award. Her little face lit up. She asked if she could have it. I told her if I were in charge she would. She asked me if I could be in charge. I laughed and told her she was wonderful but I wasn't in charge. At a later recess, I had an idea. I scrounged a quarter from my purse and "awarded" her for her good citizenship. She lit up again, and so did my heart.

Boogers! How in the world do primary teachers face the booger challenge day after day??? Bleck.

Children that age are devastated about everything. When someone cuts in line. When someone doesn't share or excludes them. When they get in trouble for talking or going to the bathroom. (Don't send me hate mail, I didn't punish for that). When they don't get to be the helper. It's all so sweet.

You know how people say, "those who can't, teach." Well I would encourage you if you know one of those people, to take your first two fingers in a V position and boink them in both of their eyes.I would never want to do all of that every day. I love waltzing in, teaching someone else's lessons, establishing enough of a relationship to get hugs in public and go home and do what I want the other days. With no parent problems or salary problems or all the other stuff that goes along.

Here's a picture of the hibernating caterpillars. I'm so grateful to get to be a sub.

Inspiration

IAT = I am thankful

If you are like me, you probably need inspiration on a daily basis. And since I am only speaking for me, I can say, I'm not always properly seeking inspiration, asking the right questions, or even keeping myself open to divine inspiration that I call revelation. But the still small voice, or the great big one, or true revelation are key to making good choices and decisions. When we have anything in our life beyond the ordinary, we need help bigger than ourselves. Well, that's what I think.

I wanted to do something last night when I was struggling between sadness and anger. Instead, I sought counsel from someone who might have a clearer perspective and was given great counsel, that put me in a pondering state. And in that state, an answer came, that was likely a much better answer and decision than the one I was considering. And that choice/decision led to some beautiful outcomes. IAT for that! Because in the talk I quote from below, you'll see that making decisions when emotions are out of control blocks the ability to receive the inspiration you need. Who knew?

Here are my favorite quotes and my thoughts about them from this recent talk in our annual General Conference. 

Did you know there is a difference between revelation and inspiration? I am sure I did, but I like this explanation. 

The Holy Ghost communicates important information that we need to guide us in our mortal journey. When it is crisp and clear and essential, it warrants the title of revelation. When it is a series of promptings we often have to guide us step by step to a worthy objective, for the purpose of this message, it is inspiration.

Here' something else I didn't know. Truly light bulb moment.

Relationships can be strengthened through the veil with people we know and love. That is done by our determined effort to continually do what is right. 

Here is Elder Scott's formula for receiving revelation.

*Fast.
*Pray to find and understand helpful scriptures.
*Read the scriptures.
*Ponder for meaning.
*Pray for inspiration.
*Ponder and pray if that is all.
*Listen for more impressions.

I think my formula has been, fast (sometimes), pray, maybe read a scripture, listen a little, run off and hope the answer comes. Luck out if it does. I think I should try Elder Scott's formula.

How I love when people speak in my language of emotion. How I wish my language of emotion was less likely to rule my life. But, I have EFT! Hooray. Many times, emotions DO NOT SERVE US. Pay attention to those emotions, and make sure you settle them however you settle them before proceeding for answers. There are enemies to revelation. And who would have though humor could get in the way? Certain kinds of humor can. I want my chances increased! I really like this part.

There are some practical principles that enhance revelation. First, yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost. Those emotions must be eliminated, or our chance for receiving revelation is slight.

Another principle is to be cautious with humor. Loud, inappropriate laughter will offend the Spirit. A good sense of humor helps revelation; loud laughter does not. A sense of humor is an escape valve for the pressures of life.

Another enemy to revelation comes from exaggeration or loudness in what is stated. Careful, quiet speech will favor the receipt of revelation.

There are also GOOD things we can do to increase those chances to receive revelation.

On the other hand, spiritual communication can be enhanced by good health practices. Exercise, reasonable amounts of sleep, and good eating habits increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation. We will live for our appointed life span. However, we can improve both the quality of our service and our well-being by making careful, appropriate choices.

It is important that our daily activities do not distract us from listening to the Spirit.

I know I have had times in my life, where I could not make the decisions needed without help. It is so gratifying to know there is Someone wiser who can help us.

I have seen individuals encountering challenges who knew what to do when it was beyond their own experience because they trusted in the Lord and knew that He would guide them to solutions that were urgently required.

The Lord has declared: “And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken.” The words sanctify yourselves may appear puzzling. President Harold B. Lee once explained that you can replace those words with the phrase “keep my commandments.” Read that way, the counsel may seem clearer.

Tremendous gems in the following part. Am I haughty, prideful, conceited, desiring praise, recognition, letting my emotions rule, thinking of myself? Well, if I am, I guess I won't be getting much inspiration. Wow!

For spirituality to grow stronger and more available, it must be planted in a righteous environment. Haughtiness, pride, and conceit are like stony ground that will never produce spiritual fruit.

Humility is a fertile soil where spirituality grows and produces the fruit of inspiration to know what to do. It gives access to divine power to accomplish what must be done. An individual motivated by a desire for praise or recognition will not qualify to be taught by the Spirit. An individual who is arrogant or who lets his or her emotions influence decisions will not be powerfully led by the Spirit.

When we are acting as instruments in behalf of others, we are more easily inspired than when we think only of ourselves. In the process of helping others, the Lord can piggyback directions for our own benefit.

Maybe we already have been given answers and have ignored them. I believe when we do that, a portion of the Spirit withdraws and is unwilling to be a help to us. Unwilling is probably not the right word, becomes unavailable to us.

Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously.

If you feel that God has not answered your prayers, ponder these scriptures—then carefully look for evidence in your own life that He may have already answered you. (read the whole talk for the referenced scriptures)

How do we KNOW? How do we know we are getting inspiration or revelation? So important to know that process. Because our mind and our emotions CAN most definitely deceive us and I am sure I have been deceived by those things at times. He did not mention the agreement between heart and mind, but I think it's another way.

Two indicators that a feeling or prompting comes from God are that it produces peace in your heart and a quiet, warm feeling. As you follow the principles I have discussed, you will be prepared to recognize revelation at critical times in your own life.

The more closely you follow divine guidance, the greater will be your happiness here and for eternity—moreover, the more abundant your progress and capacity to serve.

What if you totally flub it up? Thankfully there is a plan for that too.

Should choices be wrong, they can be rectified through repentance. When its conditions are fully met, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior, provides a release from the demands of justice for the errors made. It is wondrously simple and so incomparably beautiful. 

This last part got me. I don't think I see prayer as trivial, but I may show by my actions that I act as if it is trivial. Here's a good question. What if I saw prayer as sacred, every time, rather than trivial? M Hm. I think I should ask that question every day.

Communication with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter. It is a sacred privilege. It is based upon eternal, unchanging principles. We receive help from our Father in Heaven in response to our faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency.

I'm going to go read it again. I want inspiration in my life every day, and I want revelation to be something I recognize and am worthy for.

IAT for Amazing Questions

IAT = I am thankful

 For a long time, or at least since it came out, I have wanted to get the book Change Your Questions, Change Your Answers, by Wendy Watson Nelson. At the Genius Bootcamp I went to this weekend base on the book by Leslie Householder, Portal to Genius, the book was brought up. And it was on sale at Seagull. Hooray. So, I went and bought it and started reading it. Based on one of the early things I read in it, I've been reading Alma 5. I think that chapter is one of the most powerful in the Book of Mormon. Even if you do not look at this book as scriptural, the questions are amazingly powerful and this is only part of them. The parts I like the most. What would the world be like if we all asked ourselves these questions?

26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a ^achange of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the ^bsong of redeeming love, I would ask, ^ccan ye feel so now?

 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves ^ablameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently ^bhumble? That your garments have been ^ccleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to ^dredeem his people from their sins?

Could I say that? That's a good question. I've accepted Christ as my Savior. I am sure I could be more humble at times.

 28 Behold, are ye stripped of ^apride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

If you want to read more about the universal sin of pride, here's the BEST TALK EVER. I'll be the first to admit, that I do have knee jerk reactions and think I know better sometimes, but I always come back to if I am upset, there is something wrong in me. And I work on that. And then once I have worked on that, I come back to the problem and see if it can be approached from a happier point of view. It is REALLY HARD WORK. Changing your thoughts is one of the very hardest things you can do. But it helps you not to judge and not to be so prideful.

 29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of ^aenvy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare ^bquickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

 30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a ^amock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?

 31 Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the ^atime is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!

 32 Yea, even wo unto all ye ^aworkers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!

 33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto ^aall men, for the ^barms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

Isn't it wonderful that when we fall short, repentance can help us return to our relationship with God?

 34 Yea, he saith: ^aCome unto me and ye shall partake of the ^bfruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the ^cbread and the waters of life ^dfreely;

 35 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—

 36 For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever ^abringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.

 37 O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are ^apuffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone ^bastray, as ^csheep having no ^dshepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath ^ecalled after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not ^fhearken unto his voice!

Oh, how I want to be a meek little lamb and here his voice!

 38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good ^ashepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not ^bhearken unto the voice of the ^cgood shepherd, to the ^dname by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.

 39 And now if ye are not the ^asheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the ^bdevil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a ^cliar and a ^dchild of the devil.

Who's name do I act in? Who am I known as? I know who I want to be known as.

 40 For I say unto you that whatsoever is ^agood cometh from God, and whatsoever is ^bevil cometh from the devil.

 41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth ^agood works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a ^bchild of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him.

 42 And whosoever doeth this must receive his ^awages of him; therefore, for his ^bwages he receiveth ^cdeath, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.

Edit. 

 54 Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been ^asanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance—

One of the things I really have tried to work on is realizing everyone has a point of view, trying to understand where people are coming from and not letting differences get in the way of relationships.  Sometimes you just can't. There are some people who don't want to know where you are coming from, understand you or see things your way, and in the end, that is ok. You have to make the best of it and move on. But I know for sure, I am not better than anyone else. God loves us all the same, good and bad, weak and strong, rich and poor. And I am grateful for that.

 55 Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the ^apoor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

 56 And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent.

 57 And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the ^agood shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye ^bseparate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be ^cblotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people;

 58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in the ^abook of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled.

I am hoping I will be in the book of life. I think I better keep asking myself these questions. It's kind of like a great interview by God. See end.

 59 For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his ^aflock doth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him.

 60 And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

Interview by God:

Soooo, Are you still singing the song of redeeming love?
Are you blameless before me?
If I brought you home to me today, would you be humble enough?
Are you cleansed of sin through my Son?
Are you proud? Did you look down on some? Did you look up with jealousy at others?

Yeah, I think I'll stop or start with those and then see how much farther I can get. Good stuff. And after I've processed this a little more, I'll read some more. It's not a sit down and read book. It's a sit down and ponder book. Awesome!