Breath of Fresh Water

My mantra: always do hard things. While in Taiwan, my Mission President would always repeat to us, "Taichung missionaries always do hard things!" I have molded myself into reflecting that motto. Man! I love it! That's what made Thursday so wonderful; I believe my Writing teacher finally has taken a liking to me, or so it seems. I say that because of what took place for the first two weeks of the Fall semester.

I was really looking forward to taking Writing 150 from my friend. When Fall time neared, BYU finally decides to post who the teachers will be teaching at what time. Lucky for me, her class was full. After talking to her we decided that I would attend her class, however just for my own precautions, I would find a class that is the same time as hers. Should I not be able to enroll in my friend's class, I would just switch into the class that was selected. Two weeks go by and I walk into the class I previously enrolled in and a sense of frustration seems to enter my current Writing teacher's frame. The moment I glimpsed this, I knew I was in for a difficult beginning.

Having become infamous now, it was time to reclaim my unknown identity. I had to prove myself that I am not what people view me as. Frankly, I am passive in others' opinions towards me. So why prove myself for others? For this reason, I am not the misconception painted by your mind. I am much more than previously thought beforehand. Allow me to display who I truly am and then you can dress me according to your desires. Therefore, after first impressions, I did what I imagine is best, to be myself. It seems to have enabled to override any certain experiences from before, a success.

To do hard things, it's exciting! It allows one to challenge who they are, to not back away when in the mind it may seem intimidating. A challenge is just another word for progress. On Monday I gave a speech and my opening words began as:

Failure, the result of trying to be successful in one's endeavors.

Success, the result of surpassing one's failures.

 The terminology for success always differs from one person to another, however in the end, many people would like to be successful in their life, whatever it may mean for them. Nevertheless, if one wants success, failure is bound to be confronted like a runner faces hurdles. Should one stumble, two options are presented: give up and come to terms with reality, or get up, come to terms with reality and the power of their decisions, and continue moving forward. The challenge, then, is presented in many angles, but should one put one foot over the other, then, like water, grow resistant to the wall hardened by pressure and carve out a path only limited by mind, yet also limitless by mind.

Ah! the potential of mind! The power is just right there, in our very hands. It's exciting. I love it!

Elder Eyring's "A Child of God" Response

Whenever I watch Elder Eyring speak, his words resonate with a strong sense of humility. His experiences in life - and those which he does share - reflect that he has learned a great deal by the critiques of others. The end result of one who did not allow his pride to be in control of him is the man who is an apostle of the Lord before I very lives. This humility which he emulates, resonates, is what he strongly discusses to his audience.

He spoke of the key factor in all learning, whether it be in school or outside in any institutionalized program: humility. Humility is key for one to receive much understanding, he stresses, for in being humble one is able to set aside what goes against your own wisdom in pursuit of a higher, more better way of wisdom. He relates that one who reflects humility is capable of receiving criticism, and he discloses why criticizing in what we do is crucial to becoming more wise and knowledgeable, therefore being able to fulfill the commandment which God has given to us, that of pursuing educational excellence. What came as a surprise to me while teaching this concept - of how receiving criticism is favorable for not only us but for others around us - comes when he discusses of a renowned mathematician, who soon after he passed away, "...it was found that he had never shared some of his best work with anyone. My response is that there would have been more if he had shared it." If that is the truth concerning humility and pride, I would be a different person if I would have but taken my stubbornness and placed it under my feet so that I may welcome criticism from others.

Yet, what I lack now, or rather what is impeding my rightful position and possibility, is more than possible to be achieved. "The great learner expects resistance and overcomes it." I myself am able to attest that I get discouraged about the work load that I am given, that I usually put upon myself (perhaps due to my stubbornness). I have had my battles with discouragement, failure, abandonment. I have lost some battles, but I have learned over time that I should expect to face opposition to that which I seek. I have learned to look those opponents in the eyes and take in all that comes in and say to myself, "I will find a way to overcome this." I refuse to be trodden down by resistance. That's why I am here, right? To not succumb to the easiness of the way?