Peace in heart and home

TODAY’S MUSINGS: I’ve been pondering peace all month. Spiritual peace is my top core value. I’ve been feeling really peaceful for the last couple of months and it has been a great blessing. (see the key below!)First, I eliminated a bunch of stress out of my life. I reduced my work load significantly and that was huge. I’m still working hard and busy but not insane ;)Second, I’ve focused on daily repentance. As the prophet said, it’s important to remove the debris out of our lives. It isn’t that I go around sinning a ton, but repenting allows me to reject any behavior that is less than exemplary and realign myself on the path toward God.Third, I’ve increased my pondering time. Interesting Pres. Nelson encouraged us to “discipline” ourselves to have quiet time alone and with our families. That is important to me — it forces me to stop working and just “be.” To think and to listen.Fourth, I’ve reduced my exposure to the world. I cut back on listening or reading the news. I’ve cut back on the time on social media. I stay informed but I don’t let it intrude into my life nonstop.
But most important of all, I make the choice to be in a “beautiful” state of energy every day. I start the day saying, “Today is going to be a great day! I am in a beautiful state!” Holy cow. I cannot even begin to tell you the power of making that statement every morning. I choose to be at peace. I choose to reject the fear and anxiety that has plagued me. And when those anxious “tickles” of thought come, I immediately reject them and say again, “No, I am staying in a beautiful state!” And they disappear!
I’ve come to realize at a deeper level that we frame our lives. We can, to a large extent, make choices and choose to master our state of being. Bad things come and go. They always will. But we can choose to not wallow in suffering. Oh have I struggled with this for decades! But I’m learning more and more.
We can choose peace! No matter what is swirling in the world around us, we can choose to have peace. And that peace is strongest when anchored in the peace of our Savior. This week my memorization was John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
I am understanding more and more what that peace is. Interesting that I’m learning that more during a time of terrible unrest and fear throughout the world. But I’m grateful.
The prophet has strongly encouraged us to establish homes of safety and security to withstand what is to come. I’m now understanding at a deeper level that that begins with me and my own inner environment. I have to have safety and security within my soul so that I can radiate that to my family and others and create a home where those feelings of safety, security, and serenity abide. My heart and my home are a sanctuary of peace.