Drops of Awesome

My church's weekly newsletter had a link to this wonderful blog post called "Drops of Awesome".  Go here to read the entire post:
www.daringyoungmom.com/2012/12/19/drops-of-awesome/

Every time you do something good, something kind, something productive, its a drop in your Bucket of Awesome. You don't lose drops for each misstep. You can only build. You can only fill.

I ate fresh fruit with my breakfast cereal. Drop of Awesome!
I sent a birthday card on time. Drop of Awesome!
I told Jonathan I loved him. Drop of Awesome!
I read my scriptures today. Drop of Awesome!
I had a critical thought about my Mom but I brushed it away and replaced it with one of love. Drop of Awesome!

All day long I chanted these words in my head.  When I started thinking about my life in terms of adding these little drops of Awesome for every tiny act of good, I found I was doing more and more of them because it was a lot more fun to do good when I was rewarded with joy, rather than beating myself up about every failure in my past.

By the end of the day, I realized something important.  If I was spending time on the phone with my Mom, really listening to her in the moment, then I was a good listener, regardless of the other times I had interrupted her or multi-tasked while she was talking over the past week.  If I engaged in sincere prayer with my Heavenly Father, really communing with Him and seeking to do His will, then I am a person who prays sincerely, regardless of how my prayers were (or weren't) yesterday.

As I added up those Drops of Awesome,  I found that in those moments I actually became the person I had always wanted to be.

Have you ever said any of these things: "I always fight with my mother and my sister. Our relationship is broken."  Or "I can't stop spending money. I will never be out of debt." "My house is always a mess." "I am too self-centered." "I talk too much." "I never exercise."

These things are lies, depending on the next decision you make, the next Drop of Awesome you put in your bucket. You may have done these things in the past or have a hard time with them, but they don't define you and you can change this very instant. You may not think you can change permanently, but you can change the next choice you make.  And as you change that next tiny choice, in that moment you are the person you want to be and that is a triumph.

You do not need to wait three months to be who you want to be. Pick up ten things right now and say, "Drops of Awesome! I am someone who takes care of my house (or office, or car). That is who I am. I have proof."

It's really about allowing yourself to feel joy and allowing yourself to be pleased with the small victories of life. This builds momentum. You want more drops in your bucket. When you don't get as many, you begin to ask, "What can I do next?" Small. Tiny drops. Go forth. Be Awesome!