The Importance of Beliefs

This blog post will be on the importance of believing in something.

Let me start out the blog post by posing a question to you.

That question is: What can belief in something be? Or what can it mean for us as human beings?

Let me explain what I mean by using a few personal examples. I can remember watching my sisters play soccer. I can remember thinking, “What if I could do that? How would my life be different? What would I be doing?” Put quite simply, I was having a pity party. I believed that because I was incapable of participating in so many physical activities, it somehow meant I was less. This belief did not come from any other source but myself. Even today sometimes I still think that. It is an ongoing mental battle for me. Since that 10 year old boy wondered that, the 20 year old me is beginning to realize that it's not what other people think of you that matters. Rather, it is what you believe you can do in your

circumstance. It is who you believe you can be that really matters. I mean, lets face it. I will never be a World Cup player, but that doesn't make me any less important. I believe, now, that we all have our own unique challenges, but we also have our own unique gifts and abilities even if they are not always apparent. This may be hard to accept sometimes, but if we can all (myself included) manage to let go of self doubt, no matter the challenges, then we can find the strength to believe in ourselves. Another source of belief for me is that of my religion. I am LDS. Those religious beliefs that I hold have been a great strength to me throughout all my challenges. Now, I am aware that there are many different beliefs and religious ideals. If you don't subscribe to any religious denomination, perhaps you believe in some higher power. This can be an anchor to us and no matter your belief or circumstance, we can all agree on one thing: Life is hard. So if we can find something to believe in, this will help us find something to live for and thereby help us keep from having a pity party and see what we can do to help others on their way. Without my personal religious beliefs, I don't even want to think about where I would be. If you just so happen not to be sure what you believe, have patience with yourself and believe in yourself and you will find your way eventually. I invite you to take a challenge. The next time you're feeling sorry for yourself, think about what you can do for someone else. Often it is said that in the service of others, we can find the solutions to our own problems. I fervently believe this. I also know this is easier said than done, but if we do this we will be much happier and get much more joy out of life.

Jacob Head

The Importance of Compassion

The fourth principle is that of compassion.

What is compassion? Compassion means many things to me in my life. Let me give you a few examples. Love is shown to me on a daily basis by my family as they help me with my physical challenges. I need help bathing every morning. I still need help doing simple tasks, like my laundry. Sometimes, I even need help using public restrooms.

These tasks are not fun; in fact, they can be quite nasty for the people that help me. Yet my family members help with these tasks without complaint—without any expectation of reward or return to them in any way. My dad wakes up early most mornings so he can bathe me before he goes to work. When my dad is in a hurry, my loving mother will wash my hair in the sink, even over my vehement objections, I now know she does so out of love. My family helps me keep my dignity in my disability, which means a lot to me. They make sacrifices to help me be the best I can be.

Now, these are just examples from my own life, but an act of love can be something as simple as a smile. Or something as simple as a hello to someone that seems to be having a difficult day. Because it is truly, as has been said before by many, the simple acts of love and kindness that often go the furthest. I am thankful for the people who are willing to help me and assist me even when I don't deserve it, in these ways, because I have no idea where I would be without these people.

But I am also indeed thankful, that service doesn't have to be shown in some grandiose way like people do for me. If it was contingent on those grounds then I would be up a creek. I am not capable of bathing someone, or assisting them in those manners in which they assist me, but I am capable of, perhaps, delivering a smile to someone that really needs it, or offer advice to someone who may need advice on how to handle a situation. Nothing may ever come of these things, but then again, something might. We never know.

We can all show compassion in our own ways no matter our circumstance, no matter our beliefs. All we have to do is look for it and it will bring us peace and satisfaction that is almost indescribable. So, I would invite you to try and perform a simple act of service, whatever it may be. You might just make someone's day. It's a guarantee, your day will be at least a little bit better, if not a ton better. Now, I am not perfect at doing this, but we all have room to improve, I believe. So, I would invite you to take this challenge to serve.

Jacob Everett Head

Fun

The next principle is the principle of good wholesome fun. Fun can be many things. Fun can be experiences with the family, with friends, or even an activity on your own. You can read a book or garden alone. Gardening is NOT fun for me, but I hear some people enjoy it. Kudos to them.
Case in point: I just got back from a family reunion, which was fun for me. Whatever it is for you, it is my belief and my philosophy that we need time to get away from our cares. Even if its just for a little while, we need time to help us regenerate for the next battle in life that we face. While it may be something as simple as playing a prank on a friend(all in good fun of course), or it may be going out to eat somewhere fun, or in other words it can be something you wouldn't normally indulge in. For me this is Legos. This is my hobby and what I do for fun.
I believe this is a key principle to success and satisfaction in life for most people. If we can find what it is for us, no matter our circumstances, we will be much better off.
Jacob Head

The Road to Happiness

The second principle is that of happiness. What is happiness? Is happiness that new boat, or that brand new car, or that new job that you have been seeking? Is happiness your financial gain and security? Is happiness knowing that you are done with that test for school? These are a few of many things that people seek after in their lifetime. While these things are not inherently bad in and of themselves, these are the things that can add to happiness perhaps, but we don't absolutely need them. Happiness is a choice and having more stuff than your neighbor has is not happiness. Rather, it brings stress and perhaps even a little anger between you and your neighbor, or you and your family if we make that our priority. Rather, I have found that happiness can be found even in the midst of our greatest trials. I have already laid out somewhat the physical challenges that I face. As a consequence of those physical disabilities, I may not get as much joy out of boating or a new car. I mean heck, I don't care what kind of car I ride in as long as it gets me where I need to go, with what I need when I get there. If happiness for me was defined by the things I listed above, I would have a pretty stinky life. Rather, I would say happiness can be found in family and friends, and if you don't have the best family or friends happiness can be found in service, even in the midst of our greatest trials. Now, am I always perfect at this? No, but I think a positive attitude can help. Now many times, this is easier said than done. I would venture to say that that is the case for most of us. Now for some personal examples: Sometimes I feel stressed because I am not making as much visible progress towards school or a good job as maybe my sister and brothers. I have come to realize that although a little piece of paper called a degree would be nice, it is not absolutely essential. I have strong belief in a God who is loving and caring and cares about what I care about and is willing to help me if I am attempting to live according to what I have been taught, and what I know. Due to this belief I have found much happiness even in times that are very difficult. I believe that I am never alone, and I know that my religion and my beliefs bring happiness to me. some people may ask, "How can religion bring you happiness?" My answer: Service. When we genuinely want to help and serve others in their time of need, then material wealth, or lack of material wealth doesn't seem to matter as much. Or in other words, we shouldn't care how much money we make, although if we happen to be quite well off, then we can do good with the blessings god has given us. But money does not define who we are. You can give service no matter what your circumstance. I have the wonderful opportunity to go down to Ecuador with my father periodically. The first couple times I can remember that I thought I was going to be a benefit to them, but in all reality they have done and are doing infinitely more  for me than I could do for them. For I believe that God, through their sweet spirits has made a better person out of me. I say this because despite all they have been through, there's a happiness and a joy and a light in many of their eyes that may be to some, inexplicable. But I do believe I know why it is there. It is there because they know that their God cares for them and knows about their situation. Perhaps maybe for those that do not know or are doubting perhaps I had the opportunity and privilege and honor to be the messenger to those individuals to testify to them that God does love them. I now testify to you that God loves each and every one of us. He knows of each one of our challenges and trials and he will love us and take care of us forever, even in our darkest times when it may feel like a god or a supreme being or whatever you may believe is furthest away. That is when he is closest. This is happiness I have found. I hope this may help you.
Jacob Everett Head