Summary: I like to read a lot of personal development books. Growing up, my parents always had self-help, business and finance books lying around our house, and we even took a course together when I was a teenage to work on our self-awareness. I grew up familiar with Zig Ziglar, and Tony Robbins, and all of those gurus of personal development. <br> Knowing that is my own family history, it won’t come as a surprise that when I started to come up against some major trials in my life, I sought answers from all the gurus. I started reading as many books as I can, listening to the podcasts, and signing up for the courses. While nothing could ever replace my faith and testimony of The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, I also know that I can “seek...diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek...out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:118). So I searched for wisdom. <br> The wisdom I have found in these books has been incredible. I feel empowered by what I have learned, and my learning has been a supplement to my faith, and the knowledge I want to acquire. I’ve read dozens of books, but I am only just getting started! <br> More than advice<br> That being said, now that I have been learning for some time now, I have to say that nothing has been more inspiring, more enlightening, and more challenging than starting this podcast. I started this with the hope that I would be able to learn some ideas about family culture, and developing my own family’s vision and mission. While that is the case, this growth has not only come from the study and interviews I’ve conducted. I can easily say that the majority of the growth I’ve experienced has come from the act of doing challenging things, stating my dreams out loud, and facing my insecurities about my weaknesses and my faults. Facing these insecurities has done more to shape my family culture than any amount of study ever could. <br> Putting myself out there, and having my faults glaring back at me has been one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I have not waited until I knew everything I wanted to know, or until I was “ready” to start this. There is SO much I want to learn, and even more that I dream of doing. Sometimes it feels impossible. Often it feels impossible because I look at other influencers, and other people doing what I dream of doing, and I usually look at their strengths through the lens of my weakness. Maybe that isn’t fair to me and what strengths I have, but envy is inevitable, and it’s a natural part of the growth process, I think. It’s natural to look at other people who seem to have what we want, and judge ourselves harshly. <br> Appearances can be deceiving <br> When I started this podcast, I started with this in mind in a way. I wondered how some families seem to have it all together, and seemed so happy, or their kids were well-behaved. I wanted to know if what they were doing was legitimate, or if it was a hallow shell representing what those families want you to see. I’ve seen a few families who seemed to be successful fall apart. I wanted to know what it took to have more than just the appearance of success, but actually thrive. <br> While I am getting closer to that answer, it has taken a lot of introspection, and harrowing up my own false beliefs, insecurities, and examining my weaknesses. Much of that has come from putting myself out there in the world, and doubting my capacity. Especially as I perceive so many other amazing creators’ work. I can’t help but envy their work and their progress. I have learned from hard experience that this envy can be very destructive! I have spent too much energy feeling sorry for myself until I had the courage to do something about the way I was feeling. <br> I’m not going to suggest that feelings of envy are a good thing, but I want to make a few suggestions for how to turn envy around into something useful when we feel ove...
