I am IMMERSING myself in order to stay AFLOAT

Immersing To Stay Afloat

Does that sound like an oxymoron?

I think it does

but it is helping me to visualize it

The world around me sometimes scares me

I see unhappiness

I see struggles and wonder

could they have been avoided?

I know myself

I have a desire to control

everyTHING around me

and everyONE around me

I have a temper

I have determination

I have energy that can be used

for good or for bad

Lately I have seen others

sinking in despair

Sometimes I feel like I am "sinking"

I want to use my energy to

KEEP ME FROM SINKING

I was in the audience once when I heard Jeffrey Holland say,

"When you are in a storm, DON'T BAIL OUT, STAY IN THE BOAT,

it will get calm"

I have thought a lot about this

It has been a constant concern of mine,

ever since my CANCER diagnosis

What does that mean, "Don't bail out, stay in the boat" ?

What do you think it means?

I think I am going to stay with

The SAVIOR during my storms

I've thought about what I've

been doing with my life

since my "recovery" process

has begun (about 18 mos ago)

• First I listed my priorities.
• Second, I asked how much time I was spending on these "priorities".
• Third, I made a specific plan to "immerse" myself.
• Fourth, I kept (and keep) working on it.
• Fifth, I envision myself "immersing, then STAYING AFLOAT"

My priorities: I listed what was most important to my well being. I figured I needed

1. To take care of myself Spiritually
2. To take care of myself Physically
3. To take care of myself Emotionallly
4. To take care of my family and home, Dale first, kids 2nd, house last.

If I take care of my spiritual life first, I will feel better and other things will fall into place. This comes from such a strong belief in God the Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. THEY will take care of me, if I take care of myself Spiritually, I feel confident of this.

This would include the following:

Scriptures

Prayer

Temple worship

Family Home Evening

Institute class

Church meetings

Fasting

Uplifting Music

Physical Care would have:

Sleep

Proper food

Exercise

Dr s visits

Massages

Emotional Care would need:

Meditation

Reading/Pondering

Walks outside in good weather

Social Outlets

I knew that if I could take care of myself, I would feel good.

When I feel good, I treat others better around me.

I feel the Spirit, which allows me innumerable choices.

I can make whatever time I have left worthwhile to myself and those around me.

I wrote up a literal schedule of daily hours in a week and filled in the blanks of WHAT I was

going to do each hour that was congruent with my PRIORITIES.

Spiritually, if I IMMERSE myself, I am seeing more assurances. I feel like I can stay AFLOAT of so much DESPAIR that surrounds us.

I feel the temptations weakening and lessening as I STRENGTHEN myself.

I am no longer doing a lot of things that I DON"T WANT TO DO,

I WANT to do the things that build my STRENGTH,

• Spiritually
• Physically
• Emotionally
• with my Eternal Family

I am far from perfect, but I keep reminding myself how far this cancer journey has brought me. I acknowledge to myself that OVERALL, I am doing better than I have in the past.

I keep picking myself up, at least once a week, and then I try again the next day.

I see myself in a LARGE, WARM tub of water. I immerse myself up to my face. I want to surround myself with good uplifting things as much as I can. I try to let the upsetting things around me GO.....if at all possible. If it is NOT happening directly to me, I let compassion replace judgement, but I remind myself that it is not happening to me, and feel GRATITUDE.

Gratitude helps keep me AFLOAT.

Immersing myself in What I NEED is keeping me Afloat from the "sinking" despair of the World