PofE – When I Write

Okay, I did great in September. Remember this goal? Well, I accomplished that.

But unfortunately, the habit still wasn’t formed, and as soon as the move/house buying/life got in the way, the writing basically stopped.

So, before I move on to another habit, I really want to get this one formed. We closed on our house today (finally) and Russ finally has his job all sorted out, so I think I should get back into the swing of things soon. It’s been tough.

It’s finding that new normal again.

New Goal for November: write every day this month (well, all the days left – meaning from the 5th to the 30th).

PofE – “We write according to our prophecies”

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

~2 Nephi 25:26

A few weeks ago, I posted about my goal to write in my journal more often. Really, it was a goal to have a habit changed by the end of September. The habit change was to write in my journal every day.

Here’s my progress:

The week of Aug 29-Sept 4, my goal was to write in my journal twice. I wrote in my journal once.

The week of Sept 5-11, my goal was to write in my journal four times. I wrote in my journal three times.

The week of Sept 12-18, my goal was to write in my journal five times. As of Sept 17, I have written in my journal three times. If I write tonight and tomorrow, I’ll make my five days.

Next week my goal is to write in my journal six times. I think I can handle that.

This morning for scripture study I studied that scripture at the top (2 Nephi 25:26) - you can find it on my scripture study blog.

PofE – Line Upon Line

I think that maybe I was expecting too much of myself when I made my first Pursuit of Excellence Goal.

Mosiah 4:27 says:

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

The phrases “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” are found countless times through the scriptures. It’s as if Heavenly Father is trying to tell us something!

Now, first of all, most of my “goals” are not really goals – they are habit changes. There will be no “end” – I won’t exactly “acheive” something – it’s more like I’ll be getting to a point where I have changed my habits for the better.

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Simple Mom, and she wrote about the kaizen method of habit change. It has that “line upon line” feel to it, and I think I will give it a try.

So, since I keep failing miserably in achieving my goal of writing in my journal daily, I am going to make a goal that by the end of September (by September 30) I will be writing in my journal daily.

My steps will be this:

1. The week of August 29-Sept 4, I will write in my journal two days.

2. The week of Sept 5-11, I will write in my journal four days.

3. The week of Sept 12-18, I will write in my journal five days.

4. The week of Sept 19-25, I will write in my journal six days.

5. The week of Sept 26-Oct 2, I will write in my journal seven days.

So, by the end of September I will be writing in my journal daily. This feels like a more manageable way to change my habits and develop newer, better habits – by moving “line upon line.”

PofE – Try, Try Again

So, Goal #1 was a total fail.

It’s been a long week.

Full of emotion and stuff. Probably the perfect time to be journaling. But, you know... I’d rather be talking to my hubby.

In order to make Goal #1 not a complete failure (and to redeem myself), I will repeat Goal #1 this week. Even if my life is horrible and the sky is falling, I will write in my journal this week. Will will will.

And start my personal history.

 

The prologue will start like this:

“There was a mother who felt like a complete and utter failure. Every day of her life.”

Hopefully the ending will be happy.

 

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I read all of them, and try to respond most of the time!!

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In the Pursuit of Excellence – Starting Simple

I have been in serious need of goal-setting-reaching. Really. It’s been bad. Back in high school it was the Young Women’s personal progress program. I want to go through the program with Joseline when she turns twelve, and I’ll probably do the Faith in God program with Vincente (and then again with Joseline – and any other of our children who participate in the program). But until my kids are old enough to participate in their own goal setting programs, I needed something to get me there.

I can’t be stagnate in my own personal progression. Living the gospel is not checking things off a list. Just because we’re saying our personal prayers doesn’t not mean we get to check that off the list. We need to be consistently praying – improving our prayers – and using our prayers to more perfectly align our will with the Father’s.

I looked all over the Church’s website for a online version or pdf version of the Pursuit of Excellence pamphlet – to no avail. But my mom was finally able to locate a copy for me, so I’ve been off and running!

For  a little accountability, I’m going to start this Friday Pursuit of Excellence (PofE) posts. I’m going to focus on one goal each week, just to make things simple.

This week I will be focusing on a Spiritual Challenge – specifically, keeping a journal.

This week I will write in my journal every day. I also want to start recording my personal history. I know, I know – I’m too young to write a personal history! Never! You’re never too young to begin.

At one of our Relief Society meetings they handed out notebooks and a list of things to write about to start your personal history. I’ll just be following that list, and I’ll post it next week, along with an update of how things are going, and possibly a PDF version of the Pursuit of Excellence pamphlet, should you want to follow suit!

So there is it – journal keeping is my first goal! (I used to be really good at it – having kids has made it a lot harder).