So today I have been sick in bed with what is probably a migraine. For the first 8 hours or so, I couldn't do anything without my head throbbing--couldn't read, look at a computer screen, move quicker than a snail, play with the cat, text... Had to reschedule my entire day which means I won't be able to meet with one of my clients this week, and the next couple days will be super busy with work.
Oh how I hate being sick.
But now that I'm feeling a bit better--my head isn't throbbing as much as it was before, I've been able to eat a bit without feeling nauseous, and I can look at a computer screen without feeling sick--I'm much happier.
It is amazing how much my self-worth depends on my ability to DO things. As I lay in bed, I felt so discouraged and inadequate. I thought about all the things I have to do for work, moving, preparing for graduate school, etc. And as I thought about those things, I doubted myself and my ability to do the things I need and want to do. My normally fairly positive outlook on life took a serious dip, but as soon as I started feeling better, it came back up. If I were in an accident of some kind and lost my ability to do the things I love to do, what would I do? How would I react? Could I find some other way to DO the things that bring meaning to my life? Food for thought...
Anyway, that was tangent and not actually the intention of this post. I just wanted to share a few of my favorite websites, ted talks, & blogs that have changed my perspective on life during the last couple of years:
Ted: Ideas worth spreading I love Ted Talks!!! There have been way too many fabulous & inspiring talks to put them all here, so I'm gonna give you the link and you can discover talks for yourself. Some of my favorite playlists are: The Artist is In, A Better You, and How to Tell a Story.
Brene Brown on Vulnerability Ok, so I do have to share my all-time FAVORITE Ted Talk of all time!!! Brene Brown's work on vulnerability really hit home with me when I found the talk a couple years ago and it is still something I watch and think about regularly. I want to read all of her books, they are at the top of my list of books to read. I just haven't found the time to go to the library yet...I sure hope they have them at the library. In fact, maybe I'll look right now and put the books on hold so I have to go pick them up...
How Great Leaders Inspire Action One more of my favorite ted talks! The question to ask yourself is: Why are you doing something? What is your motivation for doing what you do?
Brene Brown I love Brene Brown and her work, and I just discovered she has a blog!!! I don't know how I didn't realize it earlier, but I am totally following her now!!!
Acumen This is an awesome organization devoted to combating the world's poverty. They have free online courses which I recommend. I took the Storytelling for Change course and it was great!!!
Free Online Courses Great resource for finding free online courses from ivy league and other well known universities. They have a variety of subjects and courses, and there are some really great ones!
Zen Pencils I just discovered this inspirational cartoonist, and I really love his work! Check it out (and be sure to sign up for his free posters)!
You Need a Budget This has revolutionized the way my husband and I budget and the way we think about money! I don't know what I'd do without this program. It was well worth the money we spent on it. There is now a free option for college students, and there is also a free month's trial for anyone wanting to try it out!!! I highly recommend it--we love budgeting because of YNAB! Just FYI, I do not have any financial incentives to share this website with you, I just love the program and am doing it for you.
Ting A great cell phone service that saves us money every month! We spend about $40 per month total for both of our smart phones! Ting uses Sprint's network, so they have nation-wide coverage. I highly recommend it!
Mormon Messages I am a Mormon, and these are inspiring and uplifting messages that strengthen my faith in a God who knows and loves me.
Mormon.org This is a fun website devoted to educating the public on who Mormons are. Check out these profiles! I am in the process of making my own, but haven't finished it yet.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Here's the official Mormon church website. If you want to know if something is good and true, you have to experience it and learn about it for yourself from the actual source.
Josh Weed Blog of an amazing gay Mormon, husband, father, psychologist, great person.
(Gay) Mormon Guy Another blog of another amazing gay Mormon, student, musician.
Happy surfing!!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The Discovery of My Life's Purpose
Recently I re-read a couple of books which caused me to pause and take a look at my life to determine what my vision for my life is. One of these was "Man's Search for Meaning" by psychologist and holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, the other was "The Anatomy of Peace" by the Arbinger Institute. Victor Frankl's philosophy is that every individual has a purpose in life. That purpose differs in each person, and is determined by that individual. In order to overcome any trial, affliction, depression, discouragement, etc, no matter how big or small, a person must discover the meaning of their life and actively pursue it. The Anatomy of Peace is a parable of a man who is put in a position where he is brought to understand his need to find inner clarity and peace in his interactions with himself and others.
Both books inspired me to contemplate and re-evaluate what brings meaning to my personal life, how I interact with the people around me, and what kind of influence I would like to be on the world. I had the time to reflect on what makes me truly happy, and how I personally integrate that into my life. Here is what I came up with:
This is a recurring theme in my life in various ways. It has manifest itself in my educational and occupational pursuits, my religious service, and my relationships with the people I care the very most about. This theme is what brings enjoyment and meaning to me in art, music, literature, theater, film, dance, philosophy, education, religion, and culture
I don't know how to express the journey I have undergone over the last several years which have helped me to better understand myself, so I have created a brief timeline of the most influential learning experiences in my life for a little over the past decade that have this recurring theme. You are welcome to skip the timeline to see my goals in relation to the purpose of my life.
Childhood
-Development of my love for people, different cultures, religions, and languages
-Exploration of meaning in dance, art, music, and nature
2001-2002:
-Discovery of my love of the human body and medicine
-Grappling with the divorce of my parents, finding healing and peace, learning to interact in a healthy way with the opposite gender (really this should go under the years 2001-2012)
2002-2006:
-My fascination with physical therapy and watching the physical body heal
-Caring for my siblings and helping them deal with the emotional turmoil in our lives and encouraging them to do their best in their pursuits
2009-2010
-Serving and growing to love the people of Switzerland as I helped them in their spiritual journeys of healing, love, understanding and peace. Love of helping them to strengthen their families, creating relationships with God, improving their personal finances, serving the people around them, growing in confidence and abilities as they served in the church organization
2011-2014
-My interest in psychology-particularly abnormal psychology
-Working at the Utah State Hospital, an acute & long-term psychiatric hospital changed my life-Seeing people overcome their physical and mental challenges, heal, grow, and learning to love people without regard to their past mistakes
2012-2013
-Serving as the president of the local chapter of the world's largest women's organization helped me to connect with beautiful, strong women seeking to find their own purpose in life and strengthen their relationships. I enjoyed hearing about the challenges in their lives and attempting to assist them with their physical, spiritual, and emotional growth
2012-2014
-Learning about addiction and learning to love people despite the sometimes devastating effects it can have on relationships and individuals. Supporting and listening to some of the people I love the very most grapple with these challenges
-Working with people with disabilities to help them find and maintain employment has helped me to see how engaging and participating in the community through employment helps people to gain self-confidence, self-reliance, new skills, develop relationships, and experience an overall increase in happiness and self-loveg
-Building a great friendship and finding the love of my life in this friendship changed me and helps me every day to learn to be a better person (we joined and began our lives together when we were married and sealed for time and all eternity on 16 August 2013 in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple!)
-After undergoing a crisis in which I did not know what educational & vocational paths to pursue, discovering there is a vocation called "occupational therapy" which encompasses all of the things I am fascinated with changed my life! Shadowing the profession helped me realize that OT is the perfect vocation for me, because it is therapy to help people participate in the things that bring meaning to their lives.
-My application and acceptance to Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston will bring a new chapter of my life this June (2014) and help me to pursue the things that bring meaning into my life and other's lives. I'm thrilled, nervous, elated, excited!!!
I would recommend that you read those books, and then take the time alone in a peaceful, happy place to consider what your own life purpose is. I believe that God guides and directs us, and he can help you to realize that purpose in your live. Your purpose and meaning in life is as unique as you are, and no one can tell you what that purpose is, only you can find it.
Both books inspired me to contemplate and re-evaluate what brings meaning to my personal life, how I interact with the people around me, and what kind of influence I would like to be on the world. I had the time to reflect on what makes me truly happy, and how I personally integrate that into my life. Here is what I came up with:
The meaning and purpose of my life is to help other people to fulfill their individual potential and to be able to do the things that bring meaning to their lives.
This is a recurring theme in my life in various ways. It has manifest itself in my educational and occupational pursuits, my religious service, and my relationships with the people I care the very most about. This theme is what brings enjoyment and meaning to me in art, music, literature, theater, film, dance, philosophy, education, religion, and culture
I don't know how to express the journey I have undergone over the last several years which have helped me to better understand myself, so I have created a brief timeline of the most influential learning experiences in my life for a little over the past decade that have this recurring theme. You are welcome to skip the timeline to see my goals in relation to the purpose of my life.
My Process of Discovery Timeline
Childhood
-Development of my love for people, different cultures, religions, and languages
-Exploration of meaning in dance, art, music, and nature
2001-2002:
-Discovery of my love of the human body and medicine
-Grappling with the divorce of my parents, finding healing and peace, learning to interact in a healthy way with the opposite gender (really this should go under the years 2001-2012)
2002-2006:
-My fascination with physical therapy and watching the physical body heal
-Caring for my siblings and helping them deal with the emotional turmoil in our lives and encouraging them to do their best in their pursuits
2009-2010
-Serving and growing to love the people of Switzerland as I helped them in their spiritual journeys of healing, love, understanding and peace. Love of helping them to strengthen their families, creating relationships with God, improving their personal finances, serving the people around them, growing in confidence and abilities as they served in the church organization
2011-2014
-My interest in psychology-particularly abnormal psychology
-Working at the Utah State Hospital, an acute & long-term psychiatric hospital changed my life-Seeing people overcome their physical and mental challenges, heal, grow, and learning to love people without regard to their past mistakes
2012-2013
-Serving as the president of the local chapter of the world's largest women's organization helped me to connect with beautiful, strong women seeking to find their own purpose in life and strengthen their relationships. I enjoyed hearing about the challenges in their lives and attempting to assist them with their physical, spiritual, and emotional growth
2012-2014
-Learning about addiction and learning to love people despite the sometimes devastating effects it can have on relationships and individuals. Supporting and listening to some of the people I love the very most grapple with these challenges
-Working with people with disabilities to help them find and maintain employment has helped me to see how engaging and participating in the community through employment helps people to gain self-confidence, self-reliance, new skills, develop relationships, and experience an overall increase in happiness and self-loveg
-Building a great friendship and finding the love of my life in this friendship changed me and helps me every day to learn to be a better person (we joined and began our lives together when we were married and sealed for time and all eternity on 16 August 2013 in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple!)
-After undergoing a crisis in which I did not know what educational & vocational paths to pursue, discovering there is a vocation called "occupational therapy" which encompasses all of the things I am fascinated with changed my life! Shadowing the profession helped me realize that OT is the perfect vocation for me, because it is therapy to help people participate in the things that bring meaning to their lives.
-My application and acceptance to Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston will bring a new chapter of my life this June (2014) and help me to pursue the things that bring meaning into my life and other's lives. I'm thrilled, nervous, elated, excited!!!
Again, the meaning and purpose of my life is to help other people to fulfill their individual potential and to be able to do the things that bring meaning to their lives.
My goals in relation to my purpose in life (not necessarily in order):
-Graduate with a doctorate in Occupational Therapy
-Make a difference to individuals and communities
-Provide service in the communities in which I live
-Travel the world and serve other people
-Raise engaged, thoughtful, and considerate children
-Nurture relationships with the people around me, particularly my husband, children, family, and then expanding to a wider circle of people within the community including church members, friends, professional relationships, and under-served populations
-To have a heart at peace with myself and those around me
I would recommend that you read those books, and then take the time alone in a peaceful, happy place to consider what your own life purpose is. I believe that God guides and directs us, and he can help you to realize that purpose in your live. Your purpose and meaning in life is as unique as you are, and no one can tell you what that purpose is, only you can find it.
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