Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
A week of Self-Mercy
“Please don’t nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do in the best way you know how, and the Lord will accept your effort.” Gordon B. Hinckley
Day One
Plan!
This is the foundation of your personal development journey. Take time today to plan out for the rest of the week how you will stay adequately hydrated, get proper sleep, exercise as appropriate, and eat to the best of your abilities. If there is a favorite color you like to wear, wear it often this week! Is there something in your home that makes you feel special? Put it where you can see it. These small acts of self-care and self-compassion are crucial for your overall well-being and spiritual growth.
Nothing is perfect until it is completed. And you and I are far from achieving it. We cannot be completed until we are at the judgment because progression is an eternal principle.
So, disregard this false idea of mortal perfection. Just release yourself from that tight spot and free yourself for real growth. Start doing things that bring you closer to Christ; stop doing things that take you away from Him, and keep doing those things that you do that have you right next to Him.
Day Two
You’ve done good!
Reflect on all the good you’ve done in the past three days.
Day Three
Thank Yourself!
Write a thank you note to the person you were five years ago for their choices that have blessed your life today.
“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” Maya Angelou
Day Four
I will praise [God]; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Act: Mirror Quote. Every time you look in the mirror, repeat this scripture – out loud or in your mind, ‘I will praise [God]; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’ (Psalm 139:14 KJV) This practice reminds you of your divine nature and the importance of self-acceptance. Feeling artsy? Create a card with the scripture and put it by the mirror as a reminder! This simple act can significantly impact your self-perception and self-compassion.
Day Five
You’re phenomenal!
- Ask Heavenly Father what you are doing right.
- Remember to wait for Him to answer.
- Use a prayer notebook to capture your impressions.
- Remember, don’t worry about praying for yourself too often; as someone once said, “I may feel like I pray too much I must annoy God, but then I think, “I’d rather get to Heaven and have God say, ‘now there’s a familiar voice,’ than have Him say, ‘it’s nice to finally hear from you.'”
Day Six
“If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” Leo Tolstoy.
Put extra effort into speaking kind to yourself today. If you’ve made a mistake, it’s just an ‘Oops!’ moment; don’t drag it on by putting yourself down. And if you’ve done an excellent job, pat yourself on the back!
Day Seven
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
Research the concept of Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset, which was researched and written about by Dr. Carol S. Dweck. While her research was for schools, her conclusions have implications far outside the classroom. A significant principle is that mistakes are a chance to learn how to improve, not a time to give up. Consider how this applies to your spiritual life and how to show mercy to yourself when you make mistakes, even when you sin. And how you can show mercy to others as they learn.
| Beatitudefull Life Fixed Mindset Phrases | Beatitudefull Life Growth Mindset Phrases |
| I am not good at scripture study | I am not good at it yet, but I will be. I know how to learn. |
| I am naturally great at practicing and learning | God helped me, and I can always improve. |
| Forgiving is too hard. | This will require effort, and I have Christ to help me. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. |
| I am afraid I will make mistakes. | When I make mistakes, I’ll learn from them and get better. I am loved and valued. |
| I can’t repent; my sins are way too bad. | I can go directly to Heavenly Father and ask Him. He knows, and I can do all that is asked of me to repent and do and be better. No one is without sin, and I am not alone. |
| I will not try because I might fail. | If I fail, I can try again until I succeed! |
| I am not as spiritual as other women. | I am on my journey; I can walk my path. I can move forward while looking forward and not compare myself to others. I am not judging my Heavenly Father on a bell curve. |
| I know I can do more, but I’m tired of it. | I can challenge myself to do better! |
| I always start this stuff and always need more time to finish it. | I will succeed if I find the right strategy to stay consistent, and I can! |
| I need to make progress. | I’ll get feedback from God, ask for help from Him and others, and keep going. |
| I can do it! | I am a learner. I need to go back and use a different strategy. |
Extra activity
Toss out (replace if needed) things that might make you feel less than the quality person you are!
You are worthy of love and care!
- Expired makeup
- Socks with holes or without mates
- Outdated over-the-counter drugs and vitamins
- Dried-up nail polish bottles
- Hair accessories you don’t use
- Half-used chapstick containers
- Expired sunscreen
- Lotions, face washes, serums that you don’t use
- Shampoos that don’t work for your hair type
- Old towels and washcloths
- Clothes you haven’t worn in over a year
- Clothes that annoy you when you wear them
- Styles of clothing that don’t fit your current lifestyle or size (including belts)
- Clothes that make you feel ugly
- Old and ugly T-shirts
- Damaged/stained clothing (including underwear)
- Old wallets
- Costume jewelry you don’t wear or need repair
Don’t have a week? Download 6 Ways to Show Yourself Mercy Right Now!
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