I LOVE this talk, and I mean it, LOVE!! I’m giving a presentation tonight at a HOPE conference on mental health. Mostly I’ll talk about the amazing tools that God has given to help with our mental health. Both spiritual and physical. There are big tools like medication and therapy and smaller, easier daily tools like sleep, exercise, and healthy food. All of these in a tool box can be powerful in making sure that we are feeling our best. (NOTE: For more clinical mental health issues, I can not stress enough the importance of medical help!)

Then, I will discuss two tools from this Throwback Thursday talk – Happiness Your Heritage. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave it in October 2008 to sisters of the Church. He began by talking about our struggles, saying,

“I am not suggesting that we can simply flip a switch and stop the negative feelings that distress us. This isn’t a pep talk or an attempt to encourage those sinking in quicksand to imagine instead they are relaxing on a beach. I recognize that in all of our lives there are real concerns. I know there are hearts here today that harbor deep sorrows. Others wrestle with fears that trouble the soul. For some, loneliness is their secret trial.

These things are not insignificant.

However, I would like to speak about two principles that may help you find a path to peace, hope, and joy—even during times of trial and distress. I want to speak about God’s happiness and how each one of us can taste of it in spite of the burdens that beset us.”

(Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Happiness, Your Heritage, Oct. 2008)

He went on to talk about these two principles – Creation and Service. I will leave it to you to go and read his talk about these principles but here’s a sneak peak –

This talk in 2008 was almost like “permission” for me to just pursue creative endeavors. I created all the time when I was young, and then … I don’t know. Life seemed to take away the joy of creation out of me. Maybe it was the stress and pressures of adulthood, or the paralyzing fear of critics or failure.

I needed to remember to create simply because I’m alive and it brings me joy! Not for fame or fortune. It is why I started writing blogs, books, and created my small publishing company. In fact, with my book Hand Grenades Don’t Bounce I realized that it was my 14th book. Fourteen books that I have worked on in some form (author, creator, essayist, editor or publisher).

On Instagram this morning, I just saw that one of my favorite authors just published her 80th book. That is a true feat! And happily, her accomplishment didn’t discourage me, though my initial thought was one of comparison. I pushed it out because I know what my life has been. This accomplishment is HUGE for me. I want you to think about yours in life. Your accomplishments are not trivial. What you have done in life – whether it be to grow a family, keep yourself sane, go to college, keep at a thankless job, mow your lawn, read to children, learn how to cook or bake – whatever those things are, these are HUGE and important because you are important. Your life is important.

The second principle is to have compassion and to turn that into service for others.

“When we reach out to bless the lives of others, our lives are blessed as well. Service and sacrifice open the windows of heaven, allowing choice blessings to descend upon us. Surely our beloved Heavenly Father smiles upon those who care for the least of His children.”

(Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Happiness, Your Heritage, Oct. 2008)

A few years ago, I was counseling a student. We had talked for hours about a problem he was struggling with. He was locked in his own head with worry and concern. And honestly, it was not something that was just going to go away. After a while, I felt prompted to suggest that he needed to get out of his own head. It had been snowing and I suggested that he find someone who hadn’t shoveled yet. Just anonymously shovel their walk. There was probably a reason that the person hadn’t shoveled. I knew it would bless the stranger. And the fresh air, exercise, and service would bless him and help get him out of his own head.

In the end, there should be many tools in a person’s tool box to help with improving mental health. Yes, ABSOLUTELY, medicine and therapy. And yes ABSOLUTELY spiritual tools like prayer and worship. But in addition to these, there are MANY things that we can do to improve our situations in life. Cleaning, hard work, learning, reading, putting limits on technology, improving your living space in any way, talking with friends, learning to do something. It is in our power to drastically improve the world around us if we just choose to work with what we have. (But more on that later!)

Hope you enjoy that talk and I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!