Guest post THURSDAY

This weeks guest post-er is a good friend from high school, and fellow blogger, Jamie Welch now Jaro (don't you just LOVE her last name?)  

Hello everyone! I’m Jamie – one of The Lovebirdies. I’m truly honored to be asked to guest post today by my dear friend Melissa.

We are taught from kindergarten how to “spot the differences” between two pictures. That bird has an extra feather, there’s a toothbrush in the broom – toothbrushes do not belong in brooms my friends. I could tell the difference when I was 5.

                As we grow, our attention to detail grows more poignant. It also turns our ability to see what doesn’t fit inward. We begin to separate ourselves from the adequacy of a loving Heavenly Father and compare. Such an ugly word these days, isn’t it? Compared to my friend I have no talent. Compared to my sister I’m hot-headed. Compared with my aunt I have no style. All these comparisons – plus millions more I’ve piled on myself – are heavy.

                I felt very early on (as girls are wont to do) that I was never good enough for the world’s standard. Not skinny enough, not outgoing enough, not funny enough, not quiet enough and still not loud enough. But for whom?

                Usually not enough for me.

                We all battle feelings of insecurity in our lives. But why when we are clearly told the way to have self confidence? One of my favorite ways we are reminded comes from D&C 121:45. It says if you have charity and “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.”

                If you can be confidenct in God’s presence, you can be confident around anyone.

                This teaching is so very dear to my heart. There are many times when I feel I am not living up to the standards of others and I’m miserable about it. I get down on myself for not being pretty enough or smart enough. I begin to have cyclical beat down sessions that drive me to a darkened room and put me in tears. In these gloomy times the only thing that seems to pull me out of it is prayer.

                Something about speaking to an unconditionally loving Father changes me from the inside out. I am reminded that all He asks is that I do my best. That I remember who I am: His daughter. He wouldn’t have made me if He didn’t see potential for greatness inside. He doesn’t waste His time or energy. My faith is usually enough to get me going. It motivates me to becoming a better me.

This, I’m sure, is the pure light of Christ.

The world teaches us that the way to self-confidence is by being better than someone else. This is a lie. The Savior teaches that the way to earn self-confidence is by seeking anything “virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy.” I promise that if you do this and serve your neighbor your self confidence will improve. We all have such great self-worth in the perfect eyes of our Heavenly Father. It can’t hurt to see this once in a while ourselves, can it?

I know it is so much easier said than done but I encourage everyone to try. Here are some ideas to get you going:

Serve. I can’t stress this enough. Jesus Christ never griped and groaned while handing out fish and bread, did he? No, I assure you, he didn’t.

Tell someone you love him/her. You’ll probably hear it back.

Smile even when you don’t want to. When my depressed days come sometimes the only way to keep from crying is to smile. Every time I do I think of all the blessings in my life and the smile becomes real.

Pray. Pray again.

Be kind to your body. Feed it good things and exercise it often. You’ll naturally feel better.

Do extraordinary things. I’m not Wonder Woman but who says I can’t act like her?

My hope and prayer is that all of us, women especially, can study and develop our own self worth and see how truly special we each are. It’s only fair that we use our lives as personal tributes to the one who created us. I am so grateful for my own personal testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the reason I look forward to tomorrow with courage and conviction.

I could never have said that any better then Jamie! She's completely spot on, and I love that about her. She knows just how to say something with flair, and full truth. Check out her B L O G ! Don't her and her hubby Shehan make SUCH a cute couple?! I vote yes. 

Have a great THURSDAY! I'll be taking a molecular biology test. ICK!

~M

P.S. this is our ONE HUNDRED and FIFTIETH post!