Hi everyone! I know that life has been turned upside down and has been crazy for everyone since the outbreak of COVID-19. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and those who are going through unexpected trials at this time. With our present in turmoil and our future uncertain, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by feelings of fear, despair, or hopelessness. One thing that has helped me during this time - and throughout other hard times in my life - has been the idea of looking for "compensatory blessings." By doing so, I am able to shift my focus from a more negative outlook (by focusing on what is going wrong in my life) to a more positive one where I am able to see unexpected blessings or opportunities, as well as everything I have in my life that I can be grateful for. By looking for compensatory blessings, I am also able to realize those things which I have taken for granted, and really appreciate the simple but beautiful things in life.
One unexpected blessing during this time is the enhanced opportunity to be still. I often feel that life can be so overwhelming and so busy that we often forget to take time to slow down. With our never-ending checklists and our myriad of commitments, there is often the pressure to just keep going. I know I've even felt guilty for taking time to be still because of the notion that if we're not doing something, then we're being unproductive and we are wasting time. However, sometimes all we need is just an opportunity to unwind, unplug and slow down - which actually is better for us in the long run anyway. One Harvard Health article found that being still (or practicing mindfulness) "has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and overall happiness" and improves well-being, as well as mental and physical health. While there are a plethora of ways to practice mindfulness - and so many benefits that come from doing so - one of the things that have blessed me the most is an increased connection with heaven.
In times like these, it's so helpful for me to take time to "be still and know that [He is] God." (Psalms 46:10) To remember that He is in charge and that even in the midst of turbulent times, He can offer us peace, comfort, and direction. With Easter Sunday fast approaching, it is a time to celebrate the ultimate victory and to remember that with His grace, we can achieve victory in our own battles. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin put it beautifully when he said:
"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."
As that Sunday comes we can find the hope and healing that we so desperately crave, and we can rest assured that we are never forgotten or abandoned. We can know that "[Christ's] Atonement makes available all of the power, peace, light, and strength that we need to deal with life's challenges" (Sheri Dew) While things may still seem crazy in our world today, there is still so much to look forward too, and so much good to find. There is happiness and hope ahead, as well as a myriad of blessings to be found - if we only look for it.
