Enough with enough

You can listen to the host of Joy In The Journey Radio read this blog post by using the player here.  Feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment. And be sure to catch the latest episode of Joy in the Journey Radio by going to the Recent Shows page!

We’ve all fallen short at times.  No one’s perfect.  We’re all works in progress.

Yet too often we focus on our imperfections.  We wonder how we could ever obtain eternal blessings when we just aren’t good enough.  We’re not tall enough or thin enough or funny enough or beautiful enough or strong enough or whatever enough.  We can go insane focusing on what we lack.

Because your focus becomes your reality, focusing on what you lack produces a reality of lack.  It’s impossible to feel competent when you always focus on how you fail to achieve.  It’s impossible to feel optimistic when you always focus on pessimism.

But the reverse is also true.  It’s impossible to feel incompetent when you always focus on what you’ve achieved and what you can do.  It’s impossible to feel pessimistic when you always focus on optimism and reasons to believe in a bright and glorious future.

We each have a choice every single day regarding the perspective we’ll embrace.  I choose to say “Enough with enough!”

---

It’s half full and  half empty

We’ve all heard how perspective in life is like a partially filled glass of water.  Is the glass half full or half empty?  Seeing the glass as half empty brings pessimism.  Seeing the glass as half full brings optimism.

I agree our focus determines our reality.  That’s why I say the glass is both half full and half empty.  Yes, we want to be positive.  But ignoring our problems just isn’t smart.

Nature teaches that weeds will infest your garden unless you act appropriately.  Likewise, ignoring the problems in the garden of your life allows those weeds to grow and fester.

Yes, look to the positive.  Then take the energy and optimism that perspective gives you to tackle the negative.  See the opportunities in your obstacles.  Believe in possibility, and make changes in yourself so you increase your probability of success.

---

You’re already enough

Of course, you should see the glass as half full before you see it as half empty.  That approach fortifies you to overcome your challenges.

We can all easily answer what’s wrong with our lives.  But what good is in your life?  When you follow the advice of the hymn and count your blessings, you’ll start to see how much good you really do have in your life.

As wrong as you may feel your life is going, there’s always something going right.  Last summer I faced the loss of a very special relationship.  Yet in the midst of that experience, the Spirit directed my attention to how much I loved my job and how much it allowed me to contribute to improving the lives of others.  While it felt like one part of my life was going very wrong, another was going very right.  Focusing on that right part helped me to feel how blessed I really am.

Amplifying positive perspectives and experiences in your life grants strength to confront and overcome your challenges.  Of no perspective is that more true than of the Atonement.

That consummating act of the Lord’s pure love proves you’re already enough.  Would He have suffered and died as He did if you weren’t?  Of course not.  Additionally, the Atonement means He’ll never abandon you.  He provides you with many tender mercies every single day.  He’ll always be there to help you know your next step and have the strength to take it.

---

You are a conqueror

With that strength, you can conquer any challenge before you.  You can transform any setback into an advantage.  You can find opportunities in any obstacle.  Rather than ignoring the “half empty” aspects of your life, you can confront them with confidence and come off conqueror.

What obstacle keeps you from your eternal blessings?  Are you not funny enough?  Say “Enough with enough!” and partner with the Lord to know how to work on improving that skill while searching for that someone who thinks your skill level is enough.

Are you not beautiful enough?  Say “Enough with enough!” and partner with the Lord to know how to work on improving yourself while searching for that someone who thinks you are enough.

And so it goes with any area in which you think you aren’t enough.  Say “Enough with enough!”  Then partner with the Lord to know what changes you need to make in yourself and get to work.

You weren’t sent here to fail.  You were sent here to succeed, and that gloriously.  Stop focusing on how you aren’t good enough.  Say “Enough with enough!”  And then get to work on changing you.  When you do, you can change your life and have more joy in your journey.

---