There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to make the defining choice. To take that leap of faith or let fear keep you down. Every day we make several small choices. Choices that slowly but surely change our lives. These choices are so minute and minuscule in how they impact you immediately, that the change in your life is imperceptible until you look back at how things used to be. (I.E. choosing to not make the bed is a small action governed by a tiny choice. Opting to just get ready for work and leaving instead of making your bed is a small choice that slowly but surely has a big impact. Choices have ripple effects. While the drop of water hitting the body of water may be a small action it has big consequences. Not making your bed can have life changing consequences.Not making your bed is making a statement about what is and isn't acceptable. If you don't make your bed the resulting effect can lead to a disorderly house poor work ethic and unfulfilling relationships. The reason being the statement of what is acceptable is now that you deem it to be ok to be lazy in what you do. In life we have to make a statement of perfection. That is what God asks and that is what we must strive to give.
Until next time
-Sterling
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Pages
Looking at the pages of my life. Listen to the stories of war and strife.<br />
Read about the pains of a broken heart. Hear the love songs sung as art.<br />
Learning all the lessons of the past, incredible how long the pain can last.<br />
<br />
I'm looking at the pages of my life. I hope the ending turns out all right. <br />
Looking at the pages of my life. <br />
Listen to the lyrics of my song. Listen to the tremble in your voice and hear all the things that I did wrong. <br />
Listen to a story of dispair. Hear of a hero that would not ere. <br />
Given hope born of faith and chance, pray that victory will come at last.<br />
<br />
Listen to a tale of immortal foes. Listen to the hero weep of his woes. <br />
Watch as the hero falls to his knees, see him wrestle with his God to please.<br />
See the hero broken down. Weep as he falls helpless to the ground.<br />
Feel the pain of failure here. Feel the sorrow of loved ones dear.<br />
<br />
Looking at the pages of my life, rejoice at the victories born through strife and feel the pain of extinguished life.<br />
Look at the hero brave and strong. I guess the hero was me all along.<br />
Read of the battles I've lost and won. Hear the tales of woes undone.<br />
Find joy in victory in the face of strife, as you look through the pages of my life
Read about the pains of a broken heart. Hear the love songs sung as art.<br />
Learning all the lessons of the past, incredible how long the pain can last.<br />
<br />
I'm looking at the pages of my life. I hope the ending turns out all right. <br />
Looking at the pages of my life. <br />
Listen to the lyrics of my song. Listen to the tremble in your voice and hear all the things that I did wrong. <br />
Listen to a story of dispair. Hear of a hero that would not ere. <br />
Given hope born of faith and chance, pray that victory will come at last.<br />
<br />
Listen to a tale of immortal foes. Listen to the hero weep of his woes. <br />
Watch as the hero falls to his knees, see him wrestle with his God to please.<br />
See the hero broken down. Weep as he falls helpless to the ground.<br />
Feel the pain of failure here. Feel the sorrow of loved ones dear.<br />
<br />
Looking at the pages of my life, rejoice at the victories born through strife and feel the pain of extinguished life.<br />
Look at the hero brave and strong. I guess the hero was me all along.<br />
Read of the battles I've lost and won. Hear the tales of woes undone.<br />
Find joy in victory in the face of strife, as you look through the pages of my life
Friday, October 4, 2013
Sacrifice something good for something better
In life sometimes we get something good but we end up having to trade it in. often we don't know what we are trading for. Sometimes all we know is that we lost something good. We traded it for an unknown variable. Now that can be scary. We end up running around, not knowing what's in store. When, in fact we should be having faith that God really does have our best interest at heart. That is what life is about right? Becoming like God. How can we do that if we don't even fully trust Him? In my life, I have recently been tested in my faith in God. It hasn't been easy. Not at all. I have been more than a little freaked out about what may come. But God shows his tender mercies every day. Some days are easier than others sure. But we get through.
The primary test has been my wife's decision to quit her job. She was unhappy and felt prompted to take a leap of faith and quit. She was making the most money and I alone don't make near enough money to support us. Hence the worry. However God has proven to me that my wife made the right choice. In her time being unemployed she got a job being a PA for a tv show for three days. She got paid about 800 for the job. IN THREE DAYS!! How awesome is that!? She has also applied for a position at a hospital in a city about two hours away. Her aunt is head nurse so we have high hopes. The difficult part will be the separation. I wish it was closer but she will likely have a 4-5 dollar raise from her last job and the best part is.....SHE WILL BE HAPPY!!! Life is coming together
The primary test has been my wife's decision to quit her job. She was unhappy and felt prompted to take a leap of faith and quit. She was making the most money and I alone don't make near enough money to support us. Hence the worry. However God has proven to me that my wife made the right choice. In her time being unemployed she got a job being a PA for a tv show for three days. She got paid about 800 for the job. IN THREE DAYS!! How awesome is that!? She has also applied for a position at a hospital in a city about two hours away. Her aunt is head nurse so we have high hopes. The difficult part will be the separation. I wish it was closer but she will likely have a 4-5 dollar raise from her last job and the best part is.....SHE WILL BE HAPPY!!! Life is coming together
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Forgiveness=Gratitude
It's been a while since I have posted but, I would like to take the short amount of time I have right now to shoot you guys a little something I learned over the past couple weeks. I want to share what I have learned about forgiveness and how it applies to how we can have better lives.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been avidly reading a book by Joe Vitale called The Attractor Factor. In this book he explains how in 5 easy steps we can attract anything we want into our lives. The way we do this is from the inside out. Lets say that you want to improve a relationship or something. I wanted to attract a better relationship with my wife. I wanted us to be more in sync, I wanted us to have a deeper level of trust and love for one another and I wanted to be a better husband. In reading this book I discovered that all of that was on me. I simply had to change what I believed about myself.
Let me explain how this works. Whatever you think of yourself comes across to other people. If you feel like people don't trust you, it is because you don't trust yourself. If you feel like people don't like you, it's because you don't like yourself. Once you become more comfortable in your own skin miracles can take place. In the past two weeks remarkable changes have taken place in my life.
1. We got a puppy
2. My wife cut her hair short.
3. We had a really hard trial.
4. Because of the trial we were able to become much closer and more confident.
5. We turned to God in our hour of need and enjoy having the spirit dwell in abundance with us.
6. We have become very much in sync.
Those are but a few things that have happened and miracles are happening for us every day. Once we believed that we deserved all the blessings that God has to offer we began to see them made manifest in our lives. I am more confident in my ability to be the loving and supportive husband she deserves. I am more confident in my physical appearance. I now look forward to trials because the blessings aren't far behind.
I have done something that I deemed to be impossible. I have forgiven myself for all of my faults and I am grateful for them. They make me strive to be better. I now recognize them for the blessings that they are. If you start your day grateful for everything you have and let the feeling of love dwell in your heart I promise you, you will be given more things to be grateful for. To forgive yourself, something that popped into my head was to write a letter of apology. I sat down and said how sorry I am to MYSELF for sabotaging things in my life. For not being happy with who I am and for what I have. Being grateful for everything in my life has granted me more opportunities to be grateful.
Take some time out of each day and before you ask for one blessing, let God know how grateful you are for the gift of life, for your loved ones, for your job, for your home, for your friends and anything else. If you take some time to be grateful, God will take some time to bless you. I love you all. Your support and your love means so much to me. I love each and every one of you. Take some time to yourself and wrap yourself up in the feeling of love. You ARE loved. Until next time, Sterling out.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been avidly reading a book by Joe Vitale called The Attractor Factor. In this book he explains how in 5 easy steps we can attract anything we want into our lives. The way we do this is from the inside out. Lets say that you want to improve a relationship or something. I wanted to attract a better relationship with my wife. I wanted us to be more in sync, I wanted us to have a deeper level of trust and love for one another and I wanted to be a better husband. In reading this book I discovered that all of that was on me. I simply had to change what I believed about myself.
Let me explain how this works. Whatever you think of yourself comes across to other people. If you feel like people don't trust you, it is because you don't trust yourself. If you feel like people don't like you, it's because you don't like yourself. Once you become more comfortable in your own skin miracles can take place. In the past two weeks remarkable changes have taken place in my life.
1. We got a puppy
2. My wife cut her hair short.
3. We had a really hard trial.
4. Because of the trial we were able to become much closer and more confident.
5. We turned to God in our hour of need and enjoy having the spirit dwell in abundance with us.
6. We have become very much in sync.
Those are but a few things that have happened and miracles are happening for us every day. Once we believed that we deserved all the blessings that God has to offer we began to see them made manifest in our lives. I am more confident in my ability to be the loving and supportive husband she deserves. I am more confident in my physical appearance. I now look forward to trials because the blessings aren't far behind.
I have done something that I deemed to be impossible. I have forgiven myself for all of my faults and I am grateful for them. They make me strive to be better. I now recognize them for the blessings that they are. If you start your day grateful for everything you have and let the feeling of love dwell in your heart I promise you, you will be given more things to be grateful for. To forgive yourself, something that popped into my head was to write a letter of apology. I sat down and said how sorry I am to MYSELF for sabotaging things in my life. For not being happy with who I am and for what I have. Being grateful for everything in my life has granted me more opportunities to be grateful.
Take some time out of each day and before you ask for one blessing, let God know how grateful you are for the gift of life, for your loved ones, for your job, for your home, for your friends and anything else. If you take some time to be grateful, God will take some time to bless you. I love you all. Your support and your love means so much to me. I love each and every one of you. Take some time to yourself and wrap yourself up in the feeling of love. You ARE loved. Until next time, Sterling out.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
The cure
The cure for happiness and success doesn't lie in riches or worldly possessions. Are those things nice to have? You betcha! What does make people happy? I want you to ponder that question as I tell you about an experience I had today.
Today was a rough day on my wife. She has had severe allergies and they are killing her. I had an interview today and it fell on her lunch break. I was supposed to have prepared lunch for her but I was at the interview. She had to go hungry. I was also supposed to clean out our other apartment before she was done with work but I fell asleep. When she got off she was understandably upset. With her allergies and no food and Me not cleaning things got compounded and she got upset. I hadn't been considerate of her feelings.
Now, think to a time when someone did something really nice for you. No special occasion. Someone just did it to be nice. Think about when you were nice to someone else for no reason. What feeling did it give you? In my experience service and the receiving of service are things that bring joy unlike any other. Now before I finish enrolling for school and head over to clean the apartment I want to share with you that being selfless brings joy in such an incredible way because when you are truly selfless you don't even notice your own feelings except for the joy that comes in being kind and giving to others. I love you all and hope you have a lovely day. Until next time, Sterling out.
Today was a rough day on my wife. She has had severe allergies and they are killing her. I had an interview today and it fell on her lunch break. I was supposed to have prepared lunch for her but I was at the interview. She had to go hungry. I was also supposed to clean out our other apartment before she was done with work but I fell asleep. When she got off she was understandably upset. With her allergies and no food and Me not cleaning things got compounded and she got upset. I hadn't been considerate of her feelings.
Now, think to a time when someone did something really nice for you. No special occasion. Someone just did it to be nice. Think about when you were nice to someone else for no reason. What feeling did it give you? In my experience service and the receiving of service are things that bring joy unlike any other. Now before I finish enrolling for school and head over to clean the apartment I want to share with you that being selfless brings joy in such an incredible way because when you are truly selfless you don't even notice your own feelings except for the joy that comes in being kind and giving to others. I love you all and hope you have a lovely day. Until next time, Sterling out.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
The best advice
The best advice I can give anyone is live each day like it will be your last. If you succeed in doing this it will not only help you live a more wholesome and fulfilling life but it will also help much of your stress, anger and fear go away. If today was your last day, what would you do? Would you let traffic upset you? Or would you kindly let others who may need to be somewhere important go? Would you let a squabble with a co worker throw your day off? Or would you smile and thank them for their opinion and go about your day?
I believe that even Hitler would have been a much more pleasing person had he lived every day as if it were his last. There is a song by a great band that also begs this question. If today was your last day by Nickleback. My best friend gave me the best advice
I believe that even Hitler would have been a much more pleasing person had he lived every day as if it were his last. There is a song by a great band that also begs this question. If today was your last day by Nickleback. My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?
Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?
Today I challenge you do do this and live like it is your last day. If you can do this I promise you peace and love. I love you all. Until next time, Sterling out.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
My Story part 2
I saw how much you guys enjoyed my last post and so I thought maybe you guys would enjoy hearing a little more about my life. I hope that it speaks to many of you and helps you in your own lives.
Since I was eight, I have been diagnosed with Bipolar. For those of you who do not know what Bipolar is, it is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that causes electrical misfires that cause rapid and at times dangerous mood swings. When I was born I had a traumatic birth. I had issues that caused me to almost suffocate and they had to clean my feces out of my lungs. I sympathize with those doctors. I was several weeks late and was still really small. As you can imagine these events caused some problems with my physical and emotional health.
I have never really been in the popular crowd due to my being socially awkward. I have had sever mood swings in public which has been embarrassing for myself as well as my family. I now believe that those outbursts may be a large part of why I was never popular with my brothers or my dad. My mom, bless her soul, has been a rock. As anyone may be able to understand, sometimes she wasn't emotionally capable of dealing with me and that caused feelings of resentment. I felt abandoned and neglected at every turn. I would do something stupid to get attention because I believed that any attention would be better than no attention. I didn't realize that would cause an even bigger rift between the world and I.
I was my biggest enemy. Manipulating, lying, scheming, ranting, raving, throwing childish tantrums and causing havoc frequently. Trying to get the attention a craved. I had no idea that I was capable of being so much more and being the golden child if I so chose. I thought, "I'm just a screw up. If I do what I am best at, maybe they will feel sorry for me and comfort me and I will get the love and care that I desire so much." However, my parents felt that they weren't equal to the task and though they tried disciplining me the best they could, they didn't know what it was that I really wanted and it became a viscous cycle. They didn't know what I wanted so they couldn't provide it for me, and I didn't communicate so it never got resolved.
I was at my low point when I let myself get immersed in pornography and the thought of physical intimacy. My self esteem was shot. I was the self proclaimed embarrassment of the family and I didn't have many friends. The friends I did have, I had a hard time keeping except for my best man/ best friend. David was the best friend I could ever ask for and I needed him. He brought me to activities, he set me up on dates, he took me out to shovel off the elder members of our wards driveways in the winter. He was a great example and a stellar friend. He is currently serving our country in the national guard.
While I was at my low point, I was seeing a therapist that helped me immensely and gave me a love of helping people. I was able to stay clear of pornography for 15 weeks while under his tutelage. I truly believe his program to be inspired and I would recommend it to anyone that is suffering from self abuse and pornography. The one thing that was able to change me completely was getting confidence. Confidence that I could be a better person, and that I deserved to be a better person. If any of you suffer from low self esteem, you will agree that nothing helps you like having a relationship with someone who trusts you and believes in you. My wife gave that to me. If you need someone to tell you that you matter, I will tell you right now that you do. You matter to me. You matter to your family. You matter to your friends. You matter to God.
Once you realize this for yourself and truly believe it, you are capable of doing amazing things. People who suffer from addiction will tell you that they don't believe they can ever stop. They believe that it helps them cope with life and that they need it. Once you put someone in their life that tells them that they can reach out and grab the stars, they don't need the addiction anymore. They are able to replace that addiction with something else, something truly amazing; faith. Faith that they can be the best person out there. Most people try to quit an addiction by chopping the tree down. That is why they are able to stop for weeks, months and even years. Once you hack at the roots, that is when you see true miracles emerge.
I wish you all the best and will try to post more soon. I hope this blesses you and inspires you. Until next time, Sterling out
Since I was eight, I have been diagnosed with Bipolar. For those of you who do not know what Bipolar is, it is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that causes electrical misfires that cause rapid and at times dangerous mood swings. When I was born I had a traumatic birth. I had issues that caused me to almost suffocate and they had to clean my feces out of my lungs. I sympathize with those doctors. I was several weeks late and was still really small. As you can imagine these events caused some problems with my physical and emotional health.
I have never really been in the popular crowd due to my being socially awkward. I have had sever mood swings in public which has been embarrassing for myself as well as my family. I now believe that those outbursts may be a large part of why I was never popular with my brothers or my dad. My mom, bless her soul, has been a rock. As anyone may be able to understand, sometimes she wasn't emotionally capable of dealing with me and that caused feelings of resentment. I felt abandoned and neglected at every turn. I would do something stupid to get attention because I believed that any attention would be better than no attention. I didn't realize that would cause an even bigger rift between the world and I.
I was my biggest enemy. Manipulating, lying, scheming, ranting, raving, throwing childish tantrums and causing havoc frequently. Trying to get the attention a craved. I had no idea that I was capable of being so much more and being the golden child if I so chose. I thought, "I'm just a screw up. If I do what I am best at, maybe they will feel sorry for me and comfort me and I will get the love and care that I desire so much." However, my parents felt that they weren't equal to the task and though they tried disciplining me the best they could, they didn't know what it was that I really wanted and it became a viscous cycle. They didn't know what I wanted so they couldn't provide it for me, and I didn't communicate so it never got resolved.
I was at my low point when I let myself get immersed in pornography and the thought of physical intimacy. My self esteem was shot. I was the self proclaimed embarrassment of the family and I didn't have many friends. The friends I did have, I had a hard time keeping except for my best man/ best friend. David was the best friend I could ever ask for and I needed him. He brought me to activities, he set me up on dates, he took me out to shovel off the elder members of our wards driveways in the winter. He was a great example and a stellar friend. He is currently serving our country in the national guard.
While I was at my low point, I was seeing a therapist that helped me immensely and gave me a love of helping people. I was able to stay clear of pornography for 15 weeks while under his tutelage. I truly believe his program to be inspired and I would recommend it to anyone that is suffering from self abuse and pornography. The one thing that was able to change me completely was getting confidence. Confidence that I could be a better person, and that I deserved to be a better person. If any of you suffer from low self esteem, you will agree that nothing helps you like having a relationship with someone who trusts you and believes in you. My wife gave that to me. If you need someone to tell you that you matter, I will tell you right now that you do. You matter to me. You matter to your family. You matter to your friends. You matter to God.
Once you realize this for yourself and truly believe it, you are capable of doing amazing things. People who suffer from addiction will tell you that they don't believe they can ever stop. They believe that it helps them cope with life and that they need it. Once you put someone in their life that tells them that they can reach out and grab the stars, they don't need the addiction anymore. They are able to replace that addiction with something else, something truly amazing; faith. Faith that they can be the best person out there. Most people try to quit an addiction by chopping the tree down. That is why they are able to stop for weeks, months and even years. Once you hack at the roots, that is when you see true miracles emerge.
I wish you all the best and will try to post more soon. I hope this blesses you and inspires you. Until next time, Sterling out
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