Brighter Days Ahead

I took these pictures a little over a week ago (Friday, April 3). I love sunsets, but this particular one took my breath away. Maybe it was because it was unexpected (snow and dark weather has been particularly depressing to me in in the last month and a half), or maybe it just looked different than most sunsets that I see— with sort of pastel pinks and purples against a really dark sky. I thought perhaps I’d make a metaphor out of them.

A couple days before my birthday in mid-March, each individual department was called together in the company to make an announcement— that we’d exhausted every other option to reduce expenses and that they were left with no alternative but to lay a number of people off. (Basically there’s been some internal growth in order to support future external growth, but sales have gone down rather than up. Bad news.)

They said the layoffs would take place in mid-April. Needless to say, the anticipation of such has been a dark cloud in what is normally a really fairly happy and friendly place of work. It’s really amazing. There’s a visible change of demeanor in a lot of people— you can see the depression as they walk around like zombies. People who love the company but feel almost certain that they’re doomed to be laid off. People who have already cleaned out their desks and are simply waiting as if for the ax to fall. It’s mind boggling. Today, the day before layoffs, the anxiety was so thick that I couldn’t help but feel it myself.

I suspect part of it is fear– compounded by the overall economic uncertainty that exists in the world today. People who are afraid of what they’ll do without a job. Another part is that the people they work with are like family to them, and they hate to lose that. It’s been a home to them for many years. Goodbyes are never fun.

It’s been an interesting experience for me. Initially I felt that fear and worry as well. Lost a little sleep over it. There have definitely been ups and downs, but despite whatever dark clouds overhang, I see a bright and beautiful future ahead. I feel optimistic, hopeful, almost excited even. There’s a principle at play here that I’ve learned through a couple different forums— both Landmark and Crucial Conversations, among others— and that’s that our feelings tend to be dictated by what we believe about things (events, circumstances, actions, etc). The stories that we tell ourselves about what’s going on shape how we feel about them. The more negative your stories are, the crappier you feel, the more you give in to fear, doubt and worry.

Now, I think there is room to be a bit sad. Change can be difficult, especially when you “lose” people you care about (I’m sure no one will physically die, but yeah. The association won’t be the same). But it’s so important to not let that negativity get the best of you. I was thinking the other day about how easy it is to downward spiral. How negative tends to beget negative. Why don’t we spiral upwards? Partly, I believe, because it takes more effort to discipline your thoughts and feelings.

I’ve resolved that all adversity has purpose, whether we can see it or not. If we can maintain that perspective of growth and purpose, it’ll help us to weather the storms and help us to have that faith and hope in a brighter future. Just as much as negative begets negative, good begets good. Be mindful of where you let your thoughts, feelings and focus rest— they’ll play a huge part in the direction you go and how happy you are in life.

This entry wouldn’t be complete without me acknowledging God. As much useful philosophy as I’ve ingested in the last 3 years, none of it really compares to a knowledge of a loving Father in Heaven who has a plan for each one of us individually– a plan for our own happiness and growth, one that is made possible by the atoning sacrifice carried out by His son– our Savior, Jesus Christ. This has a heavy influence on my perspective on life.

In a session of the Draper Temple dedication a few weeks ago, an Apostle of the Lord shared many of the tribulations and losses he had suffered earlier in his life— from losing children to death to losing his beloved wife later in life. You could tell these things were tremendously difficult for him. His counsel was that we should not complain about the things that God does in our life. (Actually, he repeated much the same talk in General Conference a week ago if you want to hear it / read it.) Elder Scott has many times taught that what God does in our lives is for our greatest *eternal* good— and we need to trust that. We may not always understand it or see it until it’s hindsight, but it’s true.

How grateful I am for that perspective shared by these servants of God, and for the love our Father in Heaven and our Savior have for us. Helps remind me to do my best to make them a priority in life— that’s when everything else works out or drops out of your life. Just keep looking for the bright side in whatever happens.