Today was a good day. I felt we had a good training for the team – my objective going in was to think about what we can do to help clients see a quicker ROI. I got lots of commentary, lots of feedback, etc. Hopefully we can come up with things that will make small differences in the overall client appreciation and results.
When I eventually do my own thing full time, this will be a HIGH PRIORITY – under promise and over deliver. I know there is a fine line there between building value up front, but the issue I have with work is the difference between what sales pitches and what we are actually able to fulfill on the back end. I feel if we really tried to “meet in the middle” we could honestly create raving fans that would recommend our services to their friends and family. Anyway, I was positive and am really looking for things I can do to improve.
I do feel my relationship with Dane has improved and am happy about that. I feel this program, learning how to use the Atonement in ALL aspects of life, has been the only way I’ve worked through this “trial” (if I should really call it that). I also feel the situation with Dane has helped me realize that I’m very proud, egotistical, and have resentments and bitterness that leads to acting out in my addiction to “show someone” that I’m going to do what I want to do… (recognizing is the first step in recovery, right 🙂 )
So, that leads right in to the Step 8 question for today:
How do resentment and bitterness damage you physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
How DON’T they damage me? Through this program I’ve discovered that resentment (a form of pride), is my CORE issue. In the “Beware of Pride” talk it talks about this quite a bit.
Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip. 2:21.)
Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled. (See Alma 38:12; 3 Ne. 12:30.)
Physically: I feel resentment and bitterness damage my physically because I lose all ambition to do anything productive. I begin to pout, sulk, or just mope around. Not only is this unhealthy, but it also usually leads to staying up late, not getting enough rest, and a negative chain reaction.
Emotionally: Resentment and bitterness cause me to eventually feel so bad about myself too. Initially I may be so upset with someone else because I feel they didn’t do things “the right way”, but once I come to grips with my own stupidity, I feel low in self-esteem, wondering what I’m really doing, and ultimately have a feeling of worthlessness.
Spiritually: This is the worst part of resentment and bitterness – how it affects me spiritually. Because resentment and bitterness are pride in action, there is no place for the Holy Ghost when I get in this state. I lose all inspiration, guidance, and direction; “The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. (See Hel. 12:6.) They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works…[I am] tempted daily to elevate [myself] above others and diminish them. (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.) The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. C. S. Lewis said: ‘Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.'”
I love this part of the “Beware of Pride” talk:
Let us choose to be humble.
We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. (See D&C 38:24; D&C 81:5; D&C 84:106.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement. (See Jacob 4:10; Hel. 15:3; D&C 63:55; D&C 101:4–5; D&C 108:1; D&C 124:61, 84; D&C 136:31; Prov. 9:8.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us. (See 3 Ne. 13:11, 14; D&C 64:10.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service. (See Mosiah 2:16–17.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others. (See Alma 4:19; Alma 31:5; Alma 48:20.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.
We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God. (See D&C 58:43; Mosiah 27:25–26; Alma 5:7–14, 49.)
We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. (See 3 Ne. 11:11; 3 Ne. 13:33; Moro. 10:32.)
Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.
Things I’m Grateful For
- That we had a fun family home evening with Mom
- That I didn’t yell at the kids tonight
- That it’s been really fun to have Mom here
- That it was so fun to go on a great date with Becky this weekend
- That I’m going to see Jason in the morning
- That I’m trying really hard to focus on the things I DO have control of instead of complaining about what I can’t change at work (the Serenity Prayer in action 🙂 )
- That things seem to be coming together with Ben and my eBook
- That my kids bring us such great joy and that I learn so much just by watching them and trying to be more Christlike around them
Hasta manana!
Nate
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