Personal Application

After much prayer, the topic I chose for the personal application was Agency.  I felt in my heart that of all the topics, this was an appropriate topic for me to focus on. My goal is to use my agency in a wiser manner in how I choose to react in situations when I become angry.  I have come to recognize that I often “lose my temper”.  Controlling my anger has been a work in progress. There have been times where I have become so angry in different situations such as road rage, waiting in long lines or with family members-most often my children. My behavior in those situations causes me so much regret. It is something I am not proud of. In almost all of these instances I placed blame on the other person’s actions for causing me to become angry. How wrong I have been. I have my agency and can choose to react in a kinder way. Clearly, I can exercise my agency in a wiser manner and I can choose to not become angry.
How I spent my time:
I created a plan with weekly goals. The goals were: 1) My first goal was to speak in a kinder manner to my children when disciplining (especially with my 12 year old who is autistic). If needed, I would count to 10 and breathe deeply, and think carefully about how I would speak to them. 2) No more than 1 incidence of road rage in a week. 3) Read one talk a week by President Thomas S. Monson from his book “To the Rescue” under the section The Power of Self-Mastery. 4) Pray for help daily and pray to see results.
The impact on my life:
Success! I love the change I have seen within myself. My kids and husband have noticed the difference. In the talk by President Monson titled “School Thy Feelings, O My Brother” he shared these wise words: “To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible.” I gladly add my testimony to his.