What is the relationship between loving ourselves, loving others, and knowing God’s love for us? They are more connected than you may think. Your relationship with yourself may be the most important relationship to develop. Without it, imitations of love for others and negative inner self-talk and thoughts affect our ability to experience peace.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Distinguishing differences between a vanity/ego type of self-love and genuine acceptance and love of self.

The deceptive imitations of love for others is contrasted to the genuine, authentic love.

Methods on how to monitor and improve your self-love.

The 4 A’s that every human being needs that you can now provide for yourself.

Learn the depth of Christ’s effort to know us intimately one person at a time.

Alma 24

16. And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us (disrupt our peace, disrespect our boundaries, meddle in our business, persecute), behold, we will hide away our swords (repent from our traditional weapon of retaliation [fight], or habits of wounded-ness [flight, fawn, or freeze]), yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth (covenant with God), that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us (persist in their offenses), behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved (be without sin being on our side).

17. And now it came to pass that the the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth (Give my troubles to God and abandon old patterns).

18. And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood (causing harm to or being guilty of disrupting another man’s chance to return to God’s presence); and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather then shed the blood of their brethren (persist in old patterns of sin and being their own Savior) they would give up their own lives (Trust in God and his care); and rather than take away from a brother (take their chaos [attitudes, worries, words, reliability, hurts, wounded-ness, difficulties, emotions, interpretations, energy, experience, problems, recognition, etc] away from them that are for their growth) they would give unto him (give back their issues with love); and rather than spend their days in idleness (Not attending to my own business - producing an idle mind) they would labor abundantly (fully focus on my issues that need repentance) with their hands (and serve others - without taking on their responsibilities).

19. And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace (weapons that prevented peace), or they buried the weapons of war, for peace (inner peace - despite circumstances).

…

21. Now when the people saw that they were coming against them (providing triggers for old behavior patterns) they went out to meet them (they were prepared and unaffected), and prostrated themselves before them to the earth (humbly accepting without resistance and trusting we will be closer to Christ), and began to call on the name of the Lord (calling on the merits of Christ); and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamantes began to fall upon them (persist in the old ways), and began to slay them with the sword (allow me to dwell with and rely on God).

…

23. Now when the laminates saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword (flight response), neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left (fight response), but that they would lie down and perish (long suffering, surrendering), and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword -

24. Now when the Laminates saw this they did forbear (stop antagonizing, reconsider their path) from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword (felt remorse), for they repented of the things which they had done.

25. And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war (followed the example), and they would not take them again (covenanted), for they stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.

Where focus goes, energy flows, and that thing grows. Just as we can choose to focus on the ugly or on the result we don’t want to happen or boisterous storm all around us, we can choose to see the beautiful, look forward to a desired end, and focus on our Savior. Where we focus, where we put our faith, really matters.

We’ve all experienced it. That one thing that you never even considered could happen to you. And the shock of it is compounded by the assurance that God will not give us more than we can handle.

The test… is supposed to be for us. But sometimes it feels like it is a test for God. And He is failing. Both in rescuing us from it and in believing we can navigate through it.

Of course that is not the case, but sometimes it feels that way.

Like the idea that challenges/trials are an opportunity to live the gospel in action, knowledge (without application) just isn’t enough.

Having tools to manage your inner turmoil is only as good as the effectiveness of its application.

I find it interesting the connection of inner peace and living the gospel in action. They are pretty synonymous. Especially when you throw the temple into the mix as it connects heaven with earth. The presence of our Savior invokes a wellness that doesn’t and cannot exist in Babylon.

Of course, it stands to reason that the author of our existence also holds the solution to our troubles. And since the very essence of God is love – He has provided the healing from and navigation through all our woes. Knowledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is nothing in comparison to its application.

And then there is the secular approach. When one googles inner peace – you find all sorts of images involving the lotus pose (indicating meditation), stacked stones, or peaceful nature scenes. There’s also self-help ideas, mental health support, Qigong exercises, vacations to exotic locations, emotional retreats, and mindfulness videos. There are a lot of angles to find and experience an emotional calm.

But the real test of all these methodologies is the action. When life throws a wrench into your machinery, which it always does, how do you actually handle the interrupt? Of course we all desire that the event never happened in the first place. But when it does – inner rest is attainable.

Christi’s experience with Mufasa (in this podcast) is just one example. Like a movie set. The script has been made and studied (The plan of happiness, the good news of the gospel and/or inner peace tools). All the sets, costumes, and props have been put in place (creation, birth, etc). Now it is time for the marker to be clapped (challenge) and the director to say “And ACTION!”

It’s the action we take that determines our experience with peace.

-Blog written by Sandy Osburn

Christi shares her experience about when she discovered she was a co-dependent. While processing her own shame she realized our coping strategies do not define our identity. Since we cannot recover from our coping strategies on our own, there needs to be a shift of where our focus goes and recognizing who actually has the power to overcome our weakness. Be sure to visit our website lovinginnerpeace.com and consider how we can help you experience more inner peace.

Christi is preparing for her official launch by daily recording thoughts and her journey in preparing a podcast. This episode introduces her desire to be vulnerable to attract those who are ready to work on finding their inner peace.