Mastery

This week has been a circus!  But the week's readings have been a blessing to me.  Currently, I am attending a trade fair at Messe Frankfurt, Germany.  And I choose to be what Lord Acton describes as wise, someone who does at once what the fool does at last!  Despite what people think, I must persevere and do what appears to be impossible. 

I learned many things from Jeff Sandefer's video, and even want to take part in some of the activities he discussed.  In his lecture, he described the experiment he had his students perform.  During this experiment, they will interview ten role models and ask them about their triumphs, regrets, and lessons that they wish they had known sooner.  

Finding out what you're good at is sometimes hard.  Jeff Sandefer has another suggestion on how to do this.  He said, to experiment by asking five people what they think you do better than anyone else.  By doing this you will learn that answers are consistent.  There are things you do better than anyone else. That is something you're good at which you can nurture.

My favorite piece of advice from him is to write a labeled letter to self.  That is kept in a bottle to be read when faced with great temptations. I had written 2 letters before. When I was 14, I wrote a letter that I've read when I was 18.  I was amazed at how mature I was at that age.  I also needed that advice from myself.  Another letter I wrote when I was 18, which I've read after my mission.  I really needed wise counsel from someone who knew me.  And hearing “me” helped a lot.  I truly needed my words of wisdom.  I will continue doing this activity.  This time, like Jeff Sanderer said, I will label the letter.  This will help me know which specific letter will help me in my current situation.

President James E. Faust said this in one of his talks...

It is important to persevere.  There is no room for dwelling on failures if a person wants to succeed.  I choose to always get up whenever I fall down.  I am thankful for the healing hand of God. Whenever I feel like breaking, He is there.

I look forward to learning from next week's lessons and from the book "Mastery."