Tying Together Attitudes of Gratitude

The past few days have been filled with amazing experiences.  I could write pages and pages on the influence my dear friends have on me.  For the sake of time (and my grades) I will restrain myself.  The topics I wish to focus for this post come from Stephanie Nielson's message given at BYU on Thursday and President Monson's address given during the Sunday morning session of the LDS General Conference.  The tie-in is the fact that we should not focus on what we lack, but rather what we are blessed to have.

Ms. Nielson spoke beautifully of her trying experiences.  Though the space in which she spoke was over-crowded and bustling with little children, it was sacred ground.  Her emotional testimony of the past two indescribably difficult years since her plane crash left the audience with a solemn awareness of her courage and strength.  The pain and sorrow that she experienced could be felt so powerfully by all in attendance.  

Most who try to convince women that they should see their worth and inward beauty are not very successful.  The professionals who give lectures and write books on the topic most often have little personal experience with the subject matter.  Stephanie Nielson, without a doubt, knows the trial it is for women to look in the mirror and say "I am not my body."  She did not try to allude to the idea that this process is quick and easy, as many who have spoken on the subject have.  I personally know that when you are caught in the trap of believing that one less pound will bring you the love and acceptance you have been lacking for so long, you do not see what others see.  And while many try to shake sense into you, it will take years, sometimes even decades of failings and self-discovery to begin to understand that "You are not your body."

Stephanie Nielson spent the last twenty minutes or so of her address to speak personally to each woman (and man) in the audience.  Beauty is found in the spirit of a person.  Our bodies are merely meant to house and protect our spirits.  Our spirits are the ones that face trials, temptations, and heartaches.

Our spirits can harbor no more discouragement.  It is time to know of our beautiful worth.  Despite the physical imperfections that we have, Stephanie bore witness that our beauty shines through once we believe that "we are not our bodies."  We need to turn away from physical preoccupations and focus on recapturing our beauty.

Ms. Nielson believes she was given a second chance because she wanted her body and she wanted to experience life.  For months she struggled with finding the courage to look in the mirror and allowing her children visit her in the hospital.

The greatest lesson I gleaned from her address can be summed up in what she said near the end.  "I could see.  I could smell.  I had my children....And I did.  I did feel beautiful again."  No doubt there are days that are more difficult than others.  No doubt there are moments when she yearns for life before the plane crash.  But she does not let that paralyze her.  She focuses on what she is blessed with, not what she is lacking.

President Monson counseled us to focus on the blessings that we have.  Not what we are lacking.

He stated, "We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain the in realm of negative thinking and cultivate within ourselves an attitude of gratitude."

What a blessing it is to listen to Conference and have topics touch listeners in such a personal way.  I love President Monson and the prophetic counsel he gives.

What a perfect weekend.  I was  edified and strengthened in so many ways.

To listen to this Conference talk and others, follow this link:

October 2010 General Conference