Happiness is a Choice

Have you ever had a where you doubted your abilities? They can be challenging days to stay positive. I had to continually remind myself to stay positive today (and often found myself in a negative mood for a few moments). I think the worst part was actually recognizing the negativity and the impacts it had on others.

As many of you are away, my goal in life is to be a positive impact in the lives of others. I figure the first step in helping others is to be able to be positive yourself.  That's one of the reasons why I love my girlfriend...she is always reminding me to think more positively, always being that inspiration for me!

Over the past 3 weeks I've been at a new job. I spent the last 2 weeks out of town in North Carolina, training for the job. The training was more systems based and less sales training. For me, I could have learned the systems in 1 day and spent the rest of the time really learning the sales process in the industry.

Today was my first real day doing outbound cold calls to business to sell and get business. It's a rough industry to start out in but I have a good base + commission. I also have a few clients I am already working with, making things feel a little better. I've been doing sales for years and I have felt comfortable on the phone, yet for some reason today I felt like things weren't clicking....that I wasn't getting it.

It took a very conscious reminder that I can do this and that I am given a very liberal "ramp" up schedule because they understand that this business takes time. I'm just now realizing that I should have come up with some form of visual aid to remind me of my abilities.  Even if it is just writing those reminders down on a piece of paper multiple times throughout the day.

Instead of treading water for the entire day I prayed....kept praying for help....then focused on the results.  Things started to turn around in the afternoon after a break for lunch (food definitely helped...and talking to my girlfriend).

Later in the evening I held a family home evening. Ian (my boy) was not listening very well this evening (well lately in general).  A conversation about discipline ensued and how Ian needs to have more discipline while at my house. I'm sure it's been as hard on him going from mom's, dad's, and sitter's.  I think that has added to part of his struggles with discipline lately.  No excuses though....what really hurt me is that for a little bit I felt like I wasn't capable of being the dad he needed. That thought quickly dissipated though as I realized that if I didn't worry about being a better father every day then I wasn't really as good a father as I could and should be.  

When I sit back and think about it, I truly am a pretty good dad. I care, I fight for my time with him. I love him dearly and he knows it. I focus on trying to raise him with good standards and provide the best life for him. We pray, we do family home evening, we go to church, we study the scriptures, and I talk with him about the important things in life.

It's taking a few minutes to think about all the good things (even if there is room for improvement) that make one happy. Being happy makes all the difference in success. People can tell when you are happy. People love being around other happy people.

Lessons learned today

·         Pray for Help

·         Take Action

·         Find Visual Reminders

·         Write Down What You Are Good At

·         Remember Those That Love You

Other lessons I've learned since I last wrote include the importance of the Gospel in my life.  Many of you may know my background, others may not so I'll briefly share. During my childhood and early adult life I went to church always. There was a moment I questions things but quickly gained a knowledge of the gospel and served a mission (I learned a lot about the gospel and life in general while there). 1 1/2 yrs after I returned I got married in the temple and shortly after that somehow fell away from the church.  Not sure how it happened....I could make excuses but it happened.

Off and On during the next 7 years I tried to get back. I lived the standards (except going to church) Habits are hard to break (free Sundays to do what you want). Finally, after years of effort I was able to get back consistently (for well over a year now). This past week I missed church because I was in North Carolina and had no way to get there.  Even with daily scripture studies, missing church and sacrament one week took so much out of me. It was a tough week not having been able to participate in such a sacred ordinance. It felt so good to get back to church yesterday, further instilling my determination to not let life get in the way of my salvation (and the salvation of my family).

So...the lesson learned is really the importance of regular church attendance. I will never let experiences of my past happen again and I will always put God first in my life. It was a lesson I wish had been learned the easy way...but it wouldn't have meant as much to me if it had been easy. I wouldn't have known what it means to have the joy of the gospel in my life, at least not in the same way I do now. I won't sacrifice that joy again. It is too important to me. It's all about the eternities!

Basically...tonight I am just grateful and reminded that HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE!!!