Step 3 in becoming self-aware: Be grateful for your challenges – they make you who you are.

The next question in Alma 5:

“… were they destroyed? … were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell  which encircled them about, were they loosed?”

He’s still speaking of remembering their fathers here, but I think we could apply this question both to those who came before us as well as ourselves.

Alma answers both questions right after asking them. No, they were not destroyed, and yes, the chains of hell and the bands of death were loosed.

“… and their souls did expand,  and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved.”

From these few points we learn that our challenges make us who we are. Their challenges, trials, difficult circumstances didn’t destroy them. They kept going.

“… he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep…”

How many things in our lives have we been through that, when we look back on them, have changed us? For worse or for better? What do we do with our trials? What do we do when challenges arise that push us to our limits? Do we shut down? Do we keep pushing?

Have you ever stopped to think about what you do in difficult times? How you treat others? Do you stay positive? Do you hide in your closet until it passes?

Knowing how we deal with difficult circumstances can help us to become more self-aware and being more self-aware in this aspect can help us to self-manage or self-regulate when things get harder. When we know how we’ll respond to something, we can start to plan on a different approach (if that’s the path we choose to take).

Step 1: Learn where you came from and why you think the way you do.

Step 2: Be grateful for the things, tangible or not, that you already have.

Step 3: Be grateful for your challenges – they make you who you are.