Dude, long time no see, huh?
Actually, I wanted to have written last week. Truth be told, I even wrote the post and thought I had posted. But something happened, and I didn't have time to recover the loss of the post. I don't quite know what happened...but whatever. It was a sad post, I was feeling a bit defeated, and most of the post was only describe my difficulties. It's not worth your time! Fortunately, I was able to learn a lot this week about personal organization and how to make better decisions in terms of time. I am studying a book by the famous Stephen R. Covey, who is called "First Things First". It is in this book that the time management matrix that I sent last post was defined, and I am very grateful for it. As I have assessed what is important and only urgent in my life, I have been able to feel much better about how I use my time and how to do the things most precious consider.
The funny thing is that most of the goals I had are what I think is important...the biggest challenge was to define what is not worth doing with the limited time I have. That was another thing mentioned in the lost post. I discovered my limits in terms of time and commitment, and I am very grateful that I learned this lesson early.
Perhaps...one of the biggest things I learned this week is gratitude. I learned better how to be grateful for the time I have...and that's using it for what's important. Giving to others this time is important, so that we can develop love and trust. The First Presidency message in the Ensign this month is in part about that...family ties that were established with the wise use of time, with the right people. It is important we give our time to things that edify us, and make us to grow.
Another thing about gratitude that's huge for me is writing. Not only for people...but the simple recording of the things one has learned, what one feels and what goes on in one's head. One of the reasons that I feel much better than previous weeks since starting employment and a new semester of studies is that I started writing more of what was in my head into my journal. I could see the things I learned, what I had done with my time, what I liked and wanted to keep, and what I wanted to repent of and change (similar to 2 Nephi 4:15 - "And upon these I write the things of my soul..."). A testimony to me of God's wisdom, especially in missionary work, is that in First Things First, the author Covey speaks of what keeping a journal enables us to do. Specifically, he writes (summarizing, of course):
Keeping a personal journal is a high-leverage Quadrant II activity that significantly increases self-awareness...What things would you write about in a personal journal? (I'll make a list here:)
- If you don't like a result you're getting in your life, write about it...See how consequences flow from root causes...
- If you're not sure why you still do some things that you know are harmful or self-defeating, analyze it, process it, write it down....It builds your awareness of your scripting. It helps you to make wise choices.
- If you gain an insight or learn a principle or observe a situation where a principle produced certain results, write about it.
- If you feel some inner prompting and you either follow it or ignore it, write about it and what happens as a result.
- If you make a commitment to yourself or to someone else, write about the way you use your independent will to carry it out...evaluate the factors that empowered you to do it - or explore the reasons why you didn't.
- Envsion possibilities and write them down...then test your dreams. Are they based on principles? Are you willing to pay the price to achieve them?...Stand apart from your dreams. Look at them. write about them. Wrestle with them unti you're convinced they're based on principles that will bring results.
Keeping a personal journal empoweres you to see and improve, on a day-by-day basis, the way you're developing and using your endowments. Because writing truly imprints the brain, it also helps you remember and apply the things you're trying to do. In addition, it gives you a powerful contextual tool...you gain valuable insight into repeating patterns and themes in your life.
I think it to be a wonderful text. There are many tools I have learned from this book, and the Book of Mormon. There's many other things I would like to share with you...and I think I even will in the future. I believe the lesson after the trial is being taught to me, and I'm very grateful for it. As a missionary, I learned about this...and now I'm learning the why.
In short, write in your journals! They're important! It's a way we show our gratitude to the Lord. I'll improve right with you, so that I can become what Heavenly Father wants me to be! I love you, and don't want to be less for my dear friends and family.
Your loving friend,
-Erich