January Theme: Self Esteem

I think that Elder Uchtdorf's talk from last October, entitled Happiness, Your Heritage, is one of my favourites that I have ever heard given to the women of the Church. I loved how he spoke about finding a path to peace, hope and joy through God's happiness. And that creating and being compassionate are two attributes that contribute to God's happiness and therefore to ours.

There was something about the story he told about the differences between his and his wife's cooking that warmed my soul and made me chuckle hard - especially where his wife apologises for the smallest thing (I can so relate to that!). I love that we were counselled as women to create no matter where we are, and that in being creative it does not mean solely in artistic or musical ways - it can be anything that brings into existence something that was not there before eg. a tidy space in your home, a smile, a friendship with another person....

I loved that he recognises that women have within their divine make-up a longing to make things beautiful and that this talk encouarged that. I loved that he spoke of our apologising for ourselves and our efforts so frequently (and unnecessarily) as a sign of our innate desire to please Heavenly Father to the best of our ability. I love that he loves us and believes that we can do anything.

So our goal for you this month:

- read through the talk and pick out things that resonate with you.

- choose something this month that you can do to either be creative in the way he suggests or show compassion. Feel free to list your ideas of what you might do in the comments section or your successes once you've done them. How did this make you feel?

I know that as we do things that are reflective of our Heavenly Father, our sense of worth increases. How can it not, for we are His daughters.