What we "Think" is What We Are

Today, I hope no one will think poorly of me for sharing something I have written in my journal. I am studying a book, "Mind Management" and I am keeping a journal about my thoughts and about what I am learning and/or desire to remember. I have always been intrigued by the power of our thought-processes and the power of our thoughts and I find this book very motivating. I know the scripture, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," is true. Now, here is my journal entry:

"I am so intrigued by the power of our minds. I could study about this for hours a day. This morning I read the chapter, 'Your Mind Thinks Boundlessly.' I know I was told once after my brain activity had been tested because I was blanking out, that my brain waves were overly active and that even in my resting state they were overly active. Doctors determined that my blank-outs were my brain's way of getting a quick rest. Right or wrong on this analysis, I have always known that my mind never stops. Even Jeff becomes weary (I think--no pun intended) because I share so much of what I am thinking. He frequently says, 'Lori, you are such a deep thinker. Your brain never stops.' Now this morning I read this thought by Mark Twain and I am intrigued:

'What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history. These are his life, and they are not written, and cannot be written...Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man--the biography of the man himself cannot be written.'

Thus, I see how important it is to control our thoughts. 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,' is a truth revealed. I am what I think about. I do not have the time or convenience (for lack of better words) to waste my thoughts on ridicule of myself or others. Nor should I waste thought on selfish wants and petty imaginings.

Our minds need 'jump-starts' and the searching of scriptures and the reading from the 'best books' do this for me and others. Small children are truly blessed if they have parents read to them. Older children are blessed if they develop a love of reading.

This is so simple as stated on paper and yet so powerful if remembered and put into action!"

Yellowstone, Love and More

 Don't you just love a day when your heart is so full of gratitude that you realize you are receiving a glimpse of what heaven will be like? I sit hear thinking about my family and friends that I love so much and then my thoughts turn to this weekend's trip to Yellowstone and I feel gratitude again. What a beautiful world we live in. Everywhere I look I see the handiwork of a loving Father who gave us this earthly opportunity to explore opposites and to find out what we're really made of. I love our campus. When I go to Yellowstone and see the big, blue sky or the multi-colored, clouded skies with streaks of sunlight highlighting a mountain top, and the tall pines and the mountains and valleys with the wild grasses and flowers, crystal-clear rivers and streams and the deep blues of Yellowstone lake; or when I see a 4-pack of coyotes playing near a stream and among tall grasses and river otters romping joyfully from sandy beaches to still river water and then back to the sand for a moment in the brilliant sun; or when I hold hands with my sweetheart as we travel down the windy mountain roads on a walk or in a heated car when it's cold in the morning or an air-conditioned car in the mid-day; or when I get an unexpected phone call from a sweet daughter when I'm standing at the base of the Tetons (while on a wilderness walk!!!); or when you see a large group of people gathered together to see "what's out there," and all are excited to see a wolf, a mother bear with her triplets, or a baby elk or baby bison; or when you and your sweetheart decide to take a quick stroll down a little-used trail and an American Eagle soars right over your head and you realize together that 5 seconds earlier or later on this trail and the eagle would never have seen you nor you see it, and you know--you just know Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy even though the "campus tests" are hard--some are oh, so hard!!! But hey!!! I'll just keep on holding on. I'll keep looking for beautiful vistas and I will cling to memories of good times and hard times because I know I would not appreciate the good times if hard times had not come my way, too.

I also want to add here something that I remembered or relearned that I had almost forgotten about when I was in a struggling moad. Satan will get you down any way he can. There are times you will feel or hear a nagging voice in you head telling you that life is too hard or life isn't fair, or he will tell you to quit trying because you can never get things right again. Satan has as many ways to discourage us as we have weaknesses. And, Satan never gives up! He's a nag! And he will keep pushing buttons until he finds where your weaknesses are. And now here's the thing I remembered that I had almost forgotten about which I have a testimony of: Satan hates good, peaceful, truthful music. He can't stand to be in the same room where good, peaceful, truthful music is playing. So, I try to keep good music playing in my home, now (once again), every waking hour. And I am sure you can guess, the old nag has abandoned me. For a few weeks before I remembered this truth, every quiet moment was disturbed by Satan's influence. He really wanted to get me down. I would pray to dismiss him over and over again. This always helped. But when I remembered to keep my good music playing, I was no longer plagued by interruptions from that evil one. So, turn on the Tabernacle Choir, some Primary music, or the Hymns. I think you'll find this truth to be very helpful in helping you to find gratitude in your heart instead of doubts in your mind.