optimism

i taught a lesson to my young women last week on optimism. i have seriously awesome girls in my class. they are amazing and incredible and end up teaching me every week. this was indeed a lesson for me. we had great discussions on our attitudes in general and how they can affect every single aspect of our lives. 

we spoke of trials and how, if we have the right attitudes, they are really just venues for blessings to pour down upon us. 

we talked about heavenly father and jesus christ. and how they know each of us so intimately and how christ has suffered for all of our sins and knows exactly how we are feeling.

we read a lot of elder wirthlin's talk, come what may and love it. this is one of my all-time favorite messages. it lifts and inspires me each time i read it. you should read it. really, you should. come what may and love it. such sound advice from his mom. i love the quote, “How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.”

we talked about laughing more and smiling more and looking for opportunities to use our trials for good.

it was a great lesson. a great discussion, rather, with some great young women. 

and at the end i gave them all "optimism" glasses to see the world with a more optimistic point of view. and it made them laugh. success.