Week 3 - 30th September to 6th October

This week has been a much slower week in my learning, where I was able to ponder more on the things I have read and learnt. We get so caught up in our jobs that we don’t have time to ponder. I am very grateful for the lessons I get out of my learning as I would not have been able to have gotten through last week’s work, without those lessons. I had a very busy schedule and didn't have any time to do reading and assignments during the week. So, I planned and made time over the previous weekend to get it all finished. This is what we have been taught, to prioritise our lives and have faith in all things.

 I'm looking forward to this weekend for two reasons. One, it is General Conference and the lessons this week have coincided with the teachings and messages we receive at these gatherings, and two, my husband has returned from a 2-week business trip overseas and we will be able to spend some time together as a family.

 I enjoyed learning about the success formulas of life because when my 3 boys were born, I was told it’s a pity they don’t come with a manual or success formula. So, I was a bit apprehensive when I was hearing there is a success formula for life and that we would benefit from it. While I was listening and seeing what the steps were, I realised that I can use this formula for raising my children. It’s not a robot guide to deal with life’s challenges, its practical teachings that our Saviour worked with. After learning the 6 full steps and saw that number one was "Get up Early" I made it a goal to not get up late regardless of how I am feeling in the morning. This was particularly hard this week because I got sick. I am asthmatic and when my lunges are feeling sore and tight, all I want to do is sleep. I feel that because I have made this decision already to get up early, it will be easier to do so. There will still be challenges like on Thursday morning when feeling sick, but it will be possible. I am also very grateful for the early morning seminary I had in my youth because that has also given me good grounding and strength to know that getting up early is beneficial.

Step 2 - "Work Hard" This has never been difficult before. My mother taught me the value of hard work in everything. Taught me how I would feel when I worked hard at something. I was the top dance champion when I was younger, always winning 1st place and bursaries. I knew that If I wanted to win, I needed to work hard. One day in 1994 I was particularly feeling tired and not motivated to work hard on a dance that I felt I could do well without practicing. I felt the rewards of that day and landed up 3rd in my age category. From that day onwards, I realised that hard work is vital regardless if you already know something or not.

Step 3 - "Get an Education" I struggled a lot in school and never got good grades. My parents also never had the finances to let me go to university even if I got university exemption. I did do some university courses that was paid for by my elder brother, who I started working for after I finished high school.  So, I didn’t feel the importance of education, until I realised that a blessing that was given to me through my patriarchal blessing would come true via the BYU-Pathways course. I took all 3 courses in 2022 to be able to get into this degree program today. I am working harder than I did as a child and I am seeing the rewards not only in my grades but also in my knowledge.

Step 4-6 are so great to have because we need to know who we are and find what we are good at and do it and to give back to the community and to our church wards.

I created a book cover for my notebook, and I added the success formula on there to help remind me what to be working on.

My Workbook with the 6 Step Success Formula