Broadening my perspective

“My life is just the worst.”

I found myself thinking this late one night recently.

I had an impossible amount of things on my to-do list, my kids were all displaying their frustrations in all sorts of fun ways, I felt misunderstood after a conversation with someone, and I forgot to turn on the crockpot for dinner.

Everything seemed to be going wrong.

In fact, I’ve noticed that when I’m focused on myself, I can pretty quickly convince my brain that I probably have it worse than anyone else right now.

But what happens when I broaden my perspective?

I suddenly remember that I love my family, weaknesses and all. We live in a home. We have food to eat. We are generally nice people.

But then I can broaden my perspective even more!

I reflect on where my life was a decade ago, five years ago, a year ago. Life keeps getting more complicated, but SO much better.⁣ I see my growth.

And then I broaden my perspective to the largest view I can go.

What a blessing it is that I am where I am and that I know what I know. Like, truly. I am so blessed.

One huge purpose of the Book of Mormon is that it:

“…puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon)

When we broaden our perspective that wide, it is SO EASY for our problems, both trivial and serious, to melt away.⁣

We see the most important things more clearly in focus.⁣

In fact, our prophet recently counseled us:

“As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light.” – President Nelson

Life has a lot of really difficult things to deal with.

But doing things like reading the Book of Mormon or worshiping in the temple can broaden our perspective to see things as they really are.

And that bigger perspective allows the Spirit to show us the truth:

That everything will be for our joy and our eternal progression.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black