Walking In Sunlight

This past week, I was a counselor at Time To Blossom, a YW conference in Arizona. Most of the conference was focused on being a light to others and how to be uplifting. The thought came to me, that I should start a blog. That I should use it to share goodness, give inspirational thoughts, and record my own thoughts and feelings as well. 

These are the girls I was a counselor over. Don't you LOVE how happy and bright they are!? 

Thinking over a few possible titles I would like to choose for this blog, I decided upon My Soul So Delighteth. I have always loved this chapter in the Book of Mormon, where Nephi lists several things in which his soul delights. This blog will include some of the things in which my own soul delights, including the gospel, friends, family, my mission, the scriptures, etc. 

Today, I would like to talk a little about walking in the light. You see, for me, having faith was never too difficult, I guess I was just born with that gift of the Spirit. However, I know for others, it is a little more complicated. We always hear that when we "walk to the edge of the light" into the darkness, the light follows. But this is easier said than done. I was stuck at this point this week. In a few different aspects of my life, I felt like I was lost until I had guidance. I didn't know what else I could do, until I received some inspiration. I was just waiting for someone to tell me what to do next. This week though, as we were enveloped with the Spirit all day long, I started to feel more confident, that I can make my own decisions. God trusts us to make the right decisions. Sometimes, we don't receive guidance until we make a choice ourselves, and then he will confirm it. Or take us somewhere else. Either way, we must take that step in the dark. Take that leap of faith. Guidance always comes. That I know, and that I promise. 

Helen Keller said "When we face the sun, our shadow always falls behind us." When we look to Christ for help, when we focus our lives in him, the dark and uncertain shadows are behind us. Life is not always easy, but it does not have to be as hard as we sometimes make it to be. Striving to endure, desiring to be better, and working to follow Christ helps us walk in the light. And as we do so, we are promised that He is always there with us. 

But how do we do this? 

Here things that I do personally, to help me stay focused and walk in the light. 

-Read the scriptures every day. I do not believe there is a "minimum" amount of time/pages/chapters as a standard. I believe it to be whatever you personally need. 

-Pray, twice a day, at least. Talk to our Father in Heaven. If we don't communicate to him, he will not be able to communicate to us. 

-Attend the temple whenever possible. Again, there is not a minimum for how often. Just however often is a sacrifice for you. It is definitely worth it though, to feel this Spirit and to be in the House of the Lord. It brings us peace, tranquility, answers, happiness, joy, ... 

-Limit social media. Yes. That's what I said. Don't get me wrong, social media is not a bad thing, but I know for me, sometimes I would find myself losing SO much time, gawking over the best of everyone's normal lives, comparing it to the worst of my own. I didn't feel good about myself after. I do have these accounts, for a couple reasons. 1: to stay in contact with friends/family. 2: to flood the earth with goodness. I try to post gospel/testimony/church related things every couple weeks or so, hoping it will touch someone's life. 

-Spend time with friends/family. These people are there for us, and love us. They help us become who we want to become. We can remember our goals and potential around them. 

-My favorite: SMILE! Be happy :) Having a smile makes us glow from the inside out. What better way is there to walk in the light, than to be shining at the same time?? 

Do you have any other ideas/suggestions/things you do help you keep walking in the light? 

I hope you enjoy this blog, and I know I will enjoy writing it. :) 

Make it a lovely day!