Anxiety

I'm one of those people that can overthink anything.
If I think about any one thing long enough, I start to worry about it. I'll get anxiety over almost anything and it is draining.
Not only is it draining, but it's also very uncomfortable.
Sometimes stress out so much that I'll get clammy and my breathing becomes much shorter. Sometimes it feels like someone is pressing a hot rag against my whole body, making me feel closed off. Sometimes I feel like my mind is at war with itself and it won't stop wheeling at full speed. I can't unclench my fists. My muscles are locked tight.

This is not a good feeling.

Charles Spurgeon said, "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but it only empties today of its strength"

This feeling is not coming from God. God does not want us to feel weak.

In 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 7 it says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

I love this verse.

Just this last weekend I had sort of a brain meltdown. I become overly anxious. Something didn't feel right.
I was happy, but I was also being introduced to old and new stimuli and it was stressing me out. It was making me question the peace I had felt before.

Doing what I only knew how to make myself feel better, I decided to read some scriptures and say a prayer. Instead of the busy chatter that had been filling my mind, I began to think about the feelings God brings.
 I realized my feeling of initial peace is what was from Him. The feelings of wrongness and worry was not Him. I don't think it was God trying to tell me that I am headed down the wrong path. Instead, I think that was Satan trying to deter me from what I already knew.
Perhaps that was Satan's attempt to distract me; it was definitely a feeling I did not like.

God didn't make us a cowardly people, He built us to be both strong and peaceful. That's what he promotes.
So if you feel like you're at a disequilibrium, know that if you're following the Lord's path you will only find peace. Trust me, it's a good feeling.

Don't forget to be awesome!

Being a mini Christ

Everyone goes through hard times. There is always some sort of struggle in everyone's life, even if it's not very visible. Sometimes, things are much harder than other times.
I know I'm guilty of this, but when things get harder I'm always on my knees praying more, reading scriptures more, and trying to be everything I can to get the blessings to come.
What I forget is that when I am comforted and feel peace, I need to be going out to help other people who are struggling.
In II Corinthians Chapter 1, verse 4 is says, "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
This brings me reassurance. It doesn't say He will comfort us after our tribulations, it says that He will comfort is in (during) our tribulations.

Sometimes it feels like eternities while we are in the midst of our trials. Sometimes they seem to disappear in the matter of an instance.
Do you ever wonder why God comforts us? Well, first of all He loves us. He loves us so much that He wants us to be happy and tries to guide us to the happiness He has planned out for us.
But He also comforts us so that we can help others.
He wants us to spread your comfort and happiness with others, and that's hard to do when you're in your own dismal state.
In a way, He is making a small extension of Himself within you by giving you the capability to help others.
That's pretty cool!

I have a personal experience with this. For a few weeks I had this constant anxiety and was feeling pretty alone. I felt like I was being abandoned by people that I cared about, and it was making me hurt deep down inside. It was like a constant ache in my body and it consumed most of my thoughts.

One day, I went to the temple while this thought was on my mind. It began with the usual pit in my stomach and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness grew inside of me. I closed my eyes and began to pray, even beg, for this to be taken away from me. I needed to be feel okay again, even if it was just for a moment.
Then, an overwhelming feeling of unconditional love washed over me like a wave. I had never felt such an increase of peace in one single moment. The thought then came to mind, "I will never abandon you"
And then I knew that I would be okay. People are going to fail you, but Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can always be counted on. They are not going to leave you, even if everyone else does.
It was as if everything I had been depressed about disappeared, and I had a new light was shining within me.
This feeling of peace made me a happier person. I spent more time talking through other people's problems. I was able to listen to others without being consumed by my own thoughts. I felt more able to be with other people, instead of staying shut away in my room. My mind was cleared so I could see what things needed to be done around my apartment without grumbling. I became an encouragement to other people.
I'm happier than I have been in months. I'm not saying I don't struggle anymore, I do, but they are only brief moments. If I keep my main focus on helping other people, I know I'll be comforted so I can keep aiding His other children on earth, and that's what matters.

Don't forget to be awesome!