A lot has happened this summer, and to make a long story short. I've been growing up!
In the beginning... (of my summer 2011)
I went to Youth for Freedom and participated in the Andau Character Prize Competition. It was such a life-changing experience and I wouldn't have traded anything in the world for it. I had a great time with my friends, and shared some amazing experiences with my family.
I had about a week's break, then...
GIRLS CAMP!!!
Unfortunately it was my last year as a young woman... which was a little depressing but it made the experience all the better! I did a lot of planning as I was a Youth Camp Leader, and I had a lot of fun taking charge of some of the activities.
After about a month, I went four-wheeling with my family. This year was a little more stressful than years past. For me at least. For the first time in my life I rolled a four-wheeler. It was very scary and I am so glad that I am alive and unscathed. To give you an idea of the seriousness of the situation, the four-wheeler that I was riding was the biggest four-wheeler that was at our camp. One of the biggest models that the maker of that brand provides. Pretty big and scary. This was the 3rd rolling that had occurred out of 4 rollings that took place on the camping trip. When I got back from riding that day, I wrote a speech that I gave on...
The fourth of July! That was a fun experience and it was the best speech I have ever given. I am so glad I had that experience. Not to mention my friend did a fantastic job as well, when he gave two impromptu speeches that were absolutely amazing. :)
After that fun experience, I stayed up in salt lake for another two and a half weeks for...
The BYU Ballet Summer Intensive!!
That was SO much fun! I had the best room-mate anyone could ever ask for, an amazing councilor, (I stayed on campus the whole time) and I met a girl who does TJED like I do! Funny thing was, I found this out after the camp and never talked to her in person about it. I danced 9 hours every day except for on the weekends, and even then we didn't really get a 'break'. We also went to Sundance where we hiked for about three hours through waterfalls, snow, mud, rocks, and right next to some pretty scary cliffs that could be compared to the dangers of Angels Landing in Zion. We also went to music and the spoken word in temple square, and attended a college ward that evening. Then it was back to dancing! I improved so much and I absolutely enjoyed that and feel confident enough to be in a company or take classes at college now!
So after about a weeks break from Ballet camp, I received a call that I had been offered a partial scholarship to George Wythe University! I have been registered and am attending full-time on campus this fall! I am so excited and it feels very interesting to know that this September I will be turning 18 and attending college. Bittersweet...
So to settle any questions on if I am going to be staying in Cedar, not yet. If the opportunity presents itself, I will look into staying up there and coming home on the weekends. Because I am not quite "graduated" yet, (or 18) I still have responsibilities within my calling as Young Womens class president. I also would like to participate in my Ballet Studio's Halloween show, so I will not be staying in Cedar permanently yet.
And on the last few days, I rest. My summer has been so full, but has been so worth it and so amazing. I am so glad I was able to meet such wonderful and amazing people who have really changed my life and filled it with amazing experiences such as these. Its amazing to me how much time flies. My advice to those who have yet to experience this change: Enjoy your youth and fill it with as much good fun as you can. Its goes by so fast. Absorb every happy moment with joy. It will all be worth while. Push through the hard times and learn from them. And when you look back, don't look back with regret.
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
29.7.11
22.3.11
More happiness.... :)
http://market.android.com/details?id=com.catchnotes.ijournal
So I found this amazing app, which is very similar to the Happiness Baseline. Those of you who are having a hard time taking the challenge and who have an android phone, ipod touch, ipad, iphone etc. Look up this app in you app market. Its free, and you can do the baseline straight from your phone! Its not as powerful as physically writing these things down, but it is the same concept. If you need help getting started, here's the place to do so. :) Do the challenge! Its SO worth it!
Look up in your app store IJournal, its orange and has a smile on it. :) you'll have to download catchnotes as well. They're both free! :D
15.3.11
The Happiness Baseline Challenge
About two months ago, I met with a wonderful friend and mentor who asked me to do this one simple challenge that has completely changed me in ways that are indescribable.
I took the challenge a year ago, but didn't make it very far. But I never understood the impact it would have on me until I actually completed it.
The challenge she issued me was called the Happiness Baseline. The title is self-explanatory, it is the habit in which my happiness depends on.
This challenge consists of six of things I needed to do each day. And I had no idea how happy and uplifted it would make me feel.
First, Gratitudes. Each day right after I said my prayers, I wrote in my gratitude journal five things I was grateful for that I currently had, each beginning with "I am grateful" or "I am thankful". It wasn't a list, it was an affirmation. I was writing on paper that yes, I was grateful to my Heavenly Father that I had these things at this moment.
The next part of my gratitudes, was to write five more things that I would be grateful to have. It has the same concept of the former, but looking to the future. I was writing on paper that when these things happened, or came to me, that I would be grateful to my Heavenly Father for them, in fact, I was already grateful to Him for them.
To make things clear, the second half was not an unrealistic wish list, it was reasonable and had meaning and personal value. You write it the same way as the former. Not as a list, but as an affirmation or a personal covenant with the Lord.
Second, Journal writing. After I wrote in my gratitude journal, I wrote in my personal journal. When I wrote in my journal, I wrote about the positive and exciting things in my life, even if it was small. I never whined in my journal during this challenge, or wrote about my stress or nervousness. I wrote about the things that made me happy, the moments in which I was uplifted, and the times when I was about to burst with excitement. For this challenge, even if my day seemed to go horribly wrong, I could find at least one thing that I could write about that was positive. The first time it was hard, but after getting in the habit of doing that, I got to the point where I needed to go and write in it when it seemed like everything was going wrong. It made me feel so much better, and it really uplifted my spirits.
Third, Meditation. This part usually happened for me after I was done writing in my journals. I would quiet myself, and become completely present. That meant that I needed to focus on what I was doing at the present moment, not what I needed to do or accomplish later on, and not remembering what I did last week. This is where I would listen for promptings. (Sometimes I would get out a notebook and write down what came to mind.) I would focus for as long as I could, and stay in the moment as long as I possibly could, then I would set off to accomplish the things I needed to that day.
Fourth, Simplify. This happened at many different times for me throughout the day. When you simplify, you set aside one thing and completely focus your whole attention on that one thing. No multitasking here! My simplifying time would usually be at the piano, at ballet, when I wrote, when I read, and when I studied. It really got me out of the habit of doing several things at one time. And it really changed the way I focused in ballet especially. Now, when I walk into the studio, I focus completely on what I need to focus on when I'm dancing, and I leave all the cares of the world behind. This got me into trouble a few times though, because I would automatically forget to talk to my ballet teachers about certain things like payment and questions outside of ballet because I have gotten into the habit of leaving those things behind and focusing on being present. But overall, its really affected my performance within ballet and has really increased how much I get out of it each time I go.
Simplifying doesn't have to be big, it can even be focusing completely on driving, listening to a song, on cooking dinner, or on playing with a little child. Just as long as you give your full attention to something, even if its small, you can simplify.
Fifth, Exercise. This was really important for me, and I didn't realize how much exercising I did each day. It really kept me going. Even if it was playing the piano, or walking up the street, or doing some jumping jacks, it helped me keep my mind going. Exercise kept me uplifted, and became a totally different experience because of the purpose. I was doing it so that I was happy. Not because it was required of me, not because I had to meet a deadline. I was doing it for my joy.
Sixth, Strengths. This was vital and such an amazing experience. I picked one thing each day to focus on that I was good at. I didn't do it in a boastful and arrogant way, I did it to improve myself and that talent that I had. During that time, I didn't criticize myself, I didn't put myself down, I completely focused on what I was good at for that time and I made it fun. It really helped me stay away from unnecessary focus on self-criticism and negative thoughts about myself. It was a huge shield that kept those weights off of my shoulders and allowed me to accomplish my goals and commitments for the day. It helped me write better, it helped me dance, it helped me get out of my comfort zone, and it helped me help others.
As I was writing about the each one, I decided that I cannot afford to stop doing these things. Its absolutely amazing how much I have grown just by doing this, and how much my happiness has grown. There are days where I feel like I am in love, or just bursting with joy because of how much this has affected me.
I challenge the readers to do the Happiness Baseline for a whole month consistently. It will change your life, it will make you happier, and it will change your perspective on things. Its absolutely amazing and I am so happy and grateful that I was able to have this experience. It has really made me feel happier and has helped me heal. I am so thankful for my wonderful friend and mentor who challenged me to do it. It was inspired and has literally changed my life for the better. :) Go out and do it! You will not regret it I promise you!
I took the challenge a year ago, but didn't make it very far. But I never understood the impact it would have on me until I actually completed it.
The challenge she issued me was called the Happiness Baseline. The title is self-explanatory, it is the habit in which my happiness depends on.
This challenge consists of six of things I needed to do each day. And I had no idea how happy and uplifted it would make me feel.
First, Gratitudes. Each day right after I said my prayers, I wrote in my gratitude journal five things I was grateful for that I currently had, each beginning with "I am grateful" or "I am thankful". It wasn't a list, it was an affirmation. I was writing on paper that yes, I was grateful to my Heavenly Father that I had these things at this moment.
The next part of my gratitudes, was to write five more things that I would be grateful to have. It has the same concept of the former, but looking to the future. I was writing on paper that when these things happened, or came to me, that I would be grateful to my Heavenly Father for them, in fact, I was already grateful to Him for them.
To make things clear, the second half was not an unrealistic wish list, it was reasonable and had meaning and personal value. You write it the same way as the former. Not as a list, but as an affirmation or a personal covenant with the Lord.
Second, Journal writing. After I wrote in my gratitude journal, I wrote in my personal journal. When I wrote in my journal, I wrote about the positive and exciting things in my life, even if it was small. I never whined in my journal during this challenge, or wrote about my stress or nervousness. I wrote about the things that made me happy, the moments in which I was uplifted, and the times when I was about to burst with excitement. For this challenge, even if my day seemed to go horribly wrong, I could find at least one thing that I could write about that was positive. The first time it was hard, but after getting in the habit of doing that, I got to the point where I needed to go and write in it when it seemed like everything was going wrong. It made me feel so much better, and it really uplifted my spirits.
Third, Meditation. This part usually happened for me after I was done writing in my journals. I would quiet myself, and become completely present. That meant that I needed to focus on what I was doing at the present moment, not what I needed to do or accomplish later on, and not remembering what I did last week. This is where I would listen for promptings. (Sometimes I would get out a notebook and write down what came to mind.) I would focus for as long as I could, and stay in the moment as long as I possibly could, then I would set off to accomplish the things I needed to that day.
Fourth, Simplify. This happened at many different times for me throughout the day. When you simplify, you set aside one thing and completely focus your whole attention on that one thing. No multitasking here! My simplifying time would usually be at the piano, at ballet, when I wrote, when I read, and when I studied. It really got me out of the habit of doing several things at one time. And it really changed the way I focused in ballet especially. Now, when I walk into the studio, I focus completely on what I need to focus on when I'm dancing, and I leave all the cares of the world behind. This got me into trouble a few times though, because I would automatically forget to talk to my ballet teachers about certain things like payment and questions outside of ballet because I have gotten into the habit of leaving those things behind and focusing on being present. But overall, its really affected my performance within ballet and has really increased how much I get out of it each time I go.
Simplifying doesn't have to be big, it can even be focusing completely on driving, listening to a song, on cooking dinner, or on playing with a little child. Just as long as you give your full attention to something, even if its small, you can simplify.
Fifth, Exercise. This was really important for me, and I didn't realize how much exercising I did each day. It really kept me going. Even if it was playing the piano, or walking up the street, or doing some jumping jacks, it helped me keep my mind going. Exercise kept me uplifted, and became a totally different experience because of the purpose. I was doing it so that I was happy. Not because it was required of me, not because I had to meet a deadline. I was doing it for my joy.
Sixth, Strengths. This was vital and such an amazing experience. I picked one thing each day to focus on that I was good at. I didn't do it in a boastful and arrogant way, I did it to improve myself and that talent that I had. During that time, I didn't criticize myself, I didn't put myself down, I completely focused on what I was good at for that time and I made it fun. It really helped me stay away from unnecessary focus on self-criticism and negative thoughts about myself. It was a huge shield that kept those weights off of my shoulders and allowed me to accomplish my goals and commitments for the day. It helped me write better, it helped me dance, it helped me get out of my comfort zone, and it helped me help others.
As I was writing about the each one, I decided that I cannot afford to stop doing these things. Its absolutely amazing how much I have grown just by doing this, and how much my happiness has grown. There are days where I feel like I am in love, or just bursting with joy because of how much this has affected me.
I challenge the readers to do the Happiness Baseline for a whole month consistently. It will change your life, it will make you happier, and it will change your perspective on things. Its absolutely amazing and I am so happy and grateful that I was able to have this experience. It has really made me feel happier and has helped me heal. I am so thankful for my wonderful friend and mentor who challenged me to do it. It was inspired and has literally changed my life for the better. :) Go out and do it! You will not regret it I promise you!
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