Don't You Dare Tell Me.

These two words, "I can't"

Have already destroyed dreams,

Innumerable.

Be True

This above all: To thin own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.

I feel like I'm decent at this.  There are some times though that being true to myself are extremely difficult in.

So I spend time figuring out exactly which parts of me are true and need to be held fast to, and which are not and can be let go.

Still I'm not perfect at letting them go.  Being good at it takes many a serious emotional work out.  I know, because I know exactly how it works.  I've walked through the steps, felt the release, and stood up straighter afterwards.

The fears you fear so deeply that they grip you and hold you there? The "needs" you believe you have that are a requirement for you to know you're loved?

They can all change in a second.  They DO and WILL and HAVE changed in a second.  So go get 'em, and don't be afraid to love first.  Loving second is fine, but it's nowhere near as much fun, because taking action is fun, and fun is life.

Dallin Hughes

3.

I believe in this super cool thing called "The Word of God".

Maybe you've heard of it.  Maybe not.  That's okay.  If you haven't, can I introduce you to it?

If your answer was "yes", then keep reading.

I've been learning so much about it!  And I'm super excited to share this with you!  

I've been learning that it can be broken down into three parts that work together.

1. The Scriptures.

The scriptures are the written words of the prophets God has called in the past to tell the people of Him and His will.

2. The words of living/modern day prophets

These are the words of the prophets that have been called by God in this day and age to guide us and lead us, through the restored authority of the Priesthood.

3. Personal Revelation

Now, this one is cool.  This one specifically is the one I've been learning a bunch about.  I don't have a lot of time to write right now though, so I won't go into huge detail.

Basically, this is direct information into your mind that God gives to you about your life.  Can you believe that?!  I do.  It's something I'm striving for in my days, hours, minutes, and small moments.  Through this, I've learned that God really does care about us personally.  Since I've decided to serve Him and His children, everything is clearer.  My purpose, my drive, just everything!  Everything that I need is given to me for me to accomplish my mission.  Whether that be directions on how and what to do, something I can't do myself, or opportunities to act on what I want and believe in.

Here's another thing I've been learning about it:  There should never be a circumstance any of these three parts of The Word of God conflict.

If you find you have received a prompting or bit of inspiration that conflicts with either of the first two, you can know for a fact that it can be abandoned immediately as incorrect.

This is for many, many reasons.  One is so The Word of God has checks and balances.  A way to know exactly where your thoughts and "inspiration" are coming from.

Yup.  I love learning about the Gospel.  It's a blast.  My mind gets blown on a daily basis.  I recommend you look into it, you cool kat.

All de loves.

Dallin

June 2, 2014 at 3:45am

"Pop!"

Maturity

My parents, for the longest time, have tried to teach me how to be mature, and I am super grateful for that.  I only wish they had known what we now know about how to be mature.

I wish they had known how essential play is to life, and that play is totally and completely mature.

I believe that we are here to experience joy.  That belief gets put on the back burner by the need I often feel to provide for myself.  While I do need to provide for myself, that providence doesn't always look the way I see it, especially when my concern for comfort or security outweighs my trust in my Higher Power to provide me with opportunities for growth, gratitude and blessings.

So, here is to letting go of insecurities, and being comfortable while learning things that may be completely new and different to me and receiving the opportunities this beautiful life has to offer.  :)

Dear Sparks,

Living from the heart is what you do.  You are one of my heroes for this simple reality.  It comes so naturally for you, and it affects everyone!  Maybe you can't see the huge ripple effect you've had in this world, but it's there.  If you want evidence for it, it is totally okay to ask your friends how you've impacted their lives.

I've even felt that effect when I'm talking to your friends.  That light that you've invited into your world is now part of theirs as well.  You live from a place that has no end to its depth and that is so exciting to me!  I happen to know that the world is aching for you to spread your wings and shine the way you want to.

The way to win a heart is to live from yours, and I'd say you've won a few in your lifetime.

~Pansy

The more I learn about purposeful living and freedom, the more I realize that the kind of attitude that is required will not come out of anyone intent on living in their natural tendencies.

Introvert, extrovert, functions of the brain.  Sure, it's great to know what your tendencies are, and they are a big part of who you are right now.  It's very helpful to know which way you tend to lean in any given situation so you can catch yourself before you topple over.  It's also helpful for relationships and structure of treatment within those relationships....

But (and it's a big but) I have never met a human being who hasn't at one time or another used their tendencies as a cop-out, or at the very least tried to in their brain.

An example in my life is that I'm very fast paced in a forward direction and I quickly move from the thinking to the acting, so I have a tendency to make commitments because I can make that commitment in the moment and have that emotion be real, but then move on extremely quickly as well, sometimes forgetting about my commitment.

However, with what I'm learning about purposeful living is that I cannot live that way.  I have to slow down if I am to live life the way I believe God intended me to live it.  A life of purpose as a free individual.

I've noticed it as one of my battles.  However, I've also noticed it as one of my strengths.  Here's why.  That "go and do" mentality requires a lot of trust in self and your intuition (if you're following it).  Along with that, it also allows me to be able to say "Here's why you aren't getting the results you desire" when people come to me and ask for direction.  I've acted a lot, and that has allowed me many life experiences to sort through when people will come to me asking me what to do.  Now, that isn't to say I know what they need to do every time.  Quite the contrary.  Often, when I'm listening to someone tell me about what's holding them back, I'm sitting there thinking "What the heck.  ahh. I don't know your answer."  And I don't, sort of.  I receive an answer, but it's not the answer to their problems.  My answers come in the form of  "This is how they're feeling.  Ask them this. Give them a hug.  Now present this idea to them."  I have (and am gaining) stories with which to teach true and powerful principles about what needs to shift in peoples lives for them to achieve success, and you know what?  I'm excited to live my life excuse free, present, and unassuming.

If you feel like you can't do something or aren't the type of person you want to be, then live your life to prove to yourself what is really true.  You can and you are.

Until next time.  Buh-bye.

Dallin

Sit me in the fire,

Then cast me still.

Treat me with coal and with love,

Then help me count on above.

Ever since I was one of the littles, I've had a desire to sit and be with God.

As a little, I remember kneeling and praying, a good amount of tears, and questions unanswered in those moments.  I remember often feeling more lost after praying than I was before I had prayed, I remember trying to discover exactly what the Holy Ghost was to me, I remember trying my hardest to listen to the promptings of the Spirit, but there were very few times I can remember actually acting on what I wanted.  I would kneel there with my eyes wet and glistening, looking up to the heavens, waiting for some mighty love and all powerful presence to envelope me.

Many times did I pray, waiting for an answer that I didn't think would actually come, because answers never seemed to come.

I did write down a few of those prayers.  They're in various notebooks and I'll come across one of them every once in a while.  Every time I do see one, I get struck with the recognition that I always received an answer.  Always.  Within the same week of most of those prayers, there was an additional entry, relating something I had learned that week.  I don't remember if I had connected the dots back then, but now I have the opportunity to see that I always received exactly what I wanted or needed to grow and move on.  Now, it's a bit of a different story.  I have this intuition that points me exactly which way to walk.  I'm not perfect at following it, but I do know the direction I'm headed and that every step through the fogginess opens your eyes to space you couldn't have seen if you'd stood exactly where you were just a few moments before.  I know how to listen to my intuition.

No, I don't get to sit and be with God.  That's still a ways away.  However, I do know now that His desire is to respect and love me as well.  I do know that because I am fallen, it will take effort to reach Him again, but that He also has provided a way for us to return to Him and that He is actively pursuing our return to Him.

Can we have a few moments where we talk about how great God is and why?  I so very dearly enjoy praising my Heavenly Father.  Let me tell you why.  ;)

Dallin

Sure, healing takes time.  At least a little, anyway.  What healing really requires to be fully effective is energy.  Any change in the body or mind requires energy or solid matter.  Beliefs are so important.

How the heck do I teach people?

I'm not nervous or self-conscious about being a registered minister of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I'm not even concerned with having incredible enlightening moments with people.  Those naturally come.

I have this desire to fulfill the purposes for which I came to earth, the desire and drive that has been instilled in this body to teach and be with everyone I can, and to repent and repeat.  Not specifically in that order.  I am doing that, and yet, I desire so much more.  I often sit and think freely about my vision for the future, about what it can be.  My goal setting consists of what I feel the desire to do and how to get it done.  It kinda shows when I write.

My concern is for those people who, in every situation, would not listen.  How can I persuade them of the goodness of God?  How can I help them enjoy this life more fully?  How can I share the message I know I am here to share?

I'm still figuring that part out, and that's okay, but it is nice to know that people will listen eventually.

Dear Dallin,

Sometimes the only reminder I need is that if we all knew what was going on, life would be null.

Always remember your commitments.  Always remember your people.  Always remember to act when moved upon to do so, like sending that popcorn cup to the Brown family for Ashley, or writing your boys letters.  They're still there.  People are always there.

Love, Me.

p.s.  They will need you for what you know, simply because knowing will inspire their trust, so trust your knowing.

How much does Brandon Sanderson know?

Let's beat dogma up in the face.

This may be an unnecessary post, (seeing as the people who have asked me this question asked it a very, very long time ago and those people may have already found their answers) but I wanted to address this thing that's been on my mind lately.

This is addressed to men specifically, but if any ladies want to voice their opinion, then by all means, let it be read/heard.

No woman will ever really want to be your #1, even in a romantic relationship, regardless of what media or women themselves will tell you.

Er, let me rephrase that.  No woman who recognizes her value and who actively seeks to fulfill her mission (whether that be serving God, seeking to end world poverty, creating worldwide peace or other smaller or larger goals she has) will want to be your #1, despite what media or the majority of women may say.

Oh boy.  I feel like I've said something that might shake a few worlds.

I think and feel this to be true though, so I will carry on.

What the heck do I mean by "#1"?!  I mean your main focus.  Let's clarify though.  Your #1 focus is different than giving her your 100% focus.  Women want a man with a mission.

Why then would any woman ever say that they want to be your #1?  Well, let me tell you.  It's a battle that she will always want to fight, but never want to win.  She wants for you to be desirable.  Can you be desired if you're already had?  I don't think so.  To desire something implies that you do not yet have it.

That does NOT mean you ignore her.  She should be your #2.  That means you definitely give her attention.  Take Tony Stark for example.  He is Iron Man, right?  But take away the suit and what do you get?  A genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.  He was driven.  He always has a mission.  Just imagine him working on something in his basement.  Pepper, his girlfriend, comes down to tell him about something that demands his attention.  What would he do?  He would probably kid around as he continues his work.  Sure, that might annoy the heck out of her, but he does what fulfills himself first so he can take care of her with 100% of himself later.  I might add that he does it without an apology, because apologizing after he's decided to do something he's passionate about is like making a puppy dog face and asking for forgiveness for doing something you wanted and intended to do.  However, like I said earlier, don't ignore her.  Learn about her to know when she is in need and make sure you spend quality time with her.  Having and making your mission #1 makes the time she spends with you more valuable.  What is a man without a purpose?

Here's what I think it comes down to:  I am responsible for my happiness.  You are responsible for your happiness.  When we each realize that the individual is responsible for him or herself, then not only are we allowing each other to grow by overcoming that phase of their life, but we become an example of what happiness is.

I really have no clue how to subtly address this topic.  Hahaha.  I'm sure there's much more left to be said, that's why I encourage comments.  I WANT YOU! to leave a comment.  ;)

Love,

Dallin Hughes

Your focus feeds the fight.

I'm just absolutely stunned at how simple the truth is.

For the longest time, I was searching for the answer to why I wasn't getting the results I wanted to.  You know what?  I even found THE problem... sort of.

I found a problem, sure.  Heck, I CREATED that problem so I could have something to focus on to get rid of, when in reality, the problem was that I was searching for a problem.  So, instead of living the solution and achieving my mission, I found something to blame instead.  Kinda sad, eh?  Yeah, I know.  Here's something I learned when I learned about this.  It happens all the time, and it happens to everyone.  People who want to be better focus on why they aren't better, couples will focus on each other's little flaws and why their relationship won't work anymore instead of recognizing the effort made by each and the bajillions of good things they both have to offer to that relationship.

In the New Testament, it is said that Christ suffered temptations, but he gave them no heed.  No heed!  Oh, how easy it is!  And it took me this long to actually get it.  Haha.  I'm glad it did though.  It allows me to appreciate it more.  I've been practicing.  Sure, there are things that annoy me.  There are things that make me upset, but those emotions pass.  It's just a matter of how quickly you decide not to pay them any heed.

What's your focus?

Dallin Hughes

I feel as if I'm standing on the boardwalk, breathing in the air around me and loving the friendliness of it, while everyone around me thinks the air is water, so they try to swim.  It's a funny sight in a sad way and makes me want to weep as I laugh at the ridiculousness of it.  "You can stand, you can walk, you can breathe."  But they don't hear me.  They can't hear me because their experiences are full of muffled sounds created by the dense water they call "atmosphere".  It is only when I take hold of one's hand and speak and move freely with them that they understand their world isn't what it seemed.  When I let go, they often retreat somewhat to what they knew, but not entirely.  They now know they can come out of the water.  They act as if the air is cold.  They stay in the shallow water, crouching in it to keep the sensation and temperature the same.

I don't imagine to escape the reality I live in.  I imagine to bring out the beauty this reality has.  I imagine to create something more.  Something more beautiful, something more intriguing, something the man with the superb observational skills wouldn't have noticed "could be" as he walked down the street, because he only saw what "is".

Like taking the heads of flowers and drawing them where the spokes of bicycle wheels should be.  Why?  Well, I've created a context.  I've opened an avenue for the mind to travel, and closing in on my goal, I cleverly end my short trip at the door of a quip.  He told me "Put the petal to the metal in your mind."  So I did.

My daydreams of romance. Yeah, I know. They aren't perfect, but I'm still learning.

We laid there on the couch, taking turns reading to each other for the past hour.

Her heartbeat and breathing had slowed and I realized that she had fallen asleep listening while I had taken my turn reading to her.

As we laid there, I enjoyed the most amazing feeling that accompanied having someone trust you so completely as to let you hold them and take care of them.

I enjoyed having her head resting on my chest, the rhythm of her heartbeat against mine, and the constant up and down of her chest. It was almost like a piece of heaven, seeing her face so calm. Utter peace and serenity, light and glory radiated from her figure, like there was no wrong or evil in this world, like all the past bitternesses and wrongdoings had been completely wiped from existence. She looked as innocent as a three month old baby who had just learned to smile.

I knew that even though this world was filled with immeasurable beauty, it would be worth naught without her-the woman who had chosen to stand by my side through everything that life would throw at us.

I wondered how long it would be before we had our first child, how many children we would have the blessing and privilege of welcoming into this world, what they would be like, whose lives they'd influence, how many people would be blessed by their actions, what cute and completely innocent things they would say. There were endless roads for the imagination.

As I reflect on that night, I realize why it was that I was so blessed with the family I now have. I know it is because I was more than willing to be a part of the plan of happiness that my Father in Heaven laid out for us.

Also, I wrote this forever ago.  I don't even remember when.  x)

Let's keep it going. :)

I believe there are two fundamental beliefs that govern everything we do in relation to how we treat ourselves and others.

1.  That all men are created equal.

2.  That all men are not created equal.

I think I'll talk about the second first.

2.  That all men are not created equal.

When we buy into this belief, we also buy into several lies that tear down what could have been a powerful and peaceful life.  Here's one I've dealt with in the past: "They're wrong, you're right."  The unspoken words of this lie often follow the lines of "This means you have the authority to tell them they're wrong or ask questions in a way that is specifically leading them to believe you know what is best for them."  Which isn't always true.  I personally believe that there exists in this world something called "absolute truth".  That being said, this one has had a tendency to be the most recurring lie I've had trouble with and I'm sorry if you've been on the receiving end while I was being influenced by this belief.

A couple reasons why this specific belief is dangerous:  1.  It creates friends and enemies.  Well, more accurately, it causes you to take sides.  It creates conflict.  2.  It dehumanizes others, meaning those people become "lesser" people.  This isn't a belief that creates a lot of friendships, because there are very few people on this planet who believe everything you believe.

A friend of mine asked me a while ago how to influence someone who was buying into a belief that wasn't true, or at least wasn't what you believe.  I sat there and looked into her eyes and I had no idea what to say.  Up until that moment, I had never considered it.  I'm pretty ignorant and prideful, especially for how observant and neutral I am, if you know what I mean.  ;)  Well, I think I know the answer now.  Or at least, an answer.  Love them a lot, don't argue with them, and live your life with your beliefs as your example to them, not in a prideful way, but in a way exhibiting unconditional love exactly the way they need it..  When they open up, don't shoot them down with your beliefs.  Explain to them what you believe and why you believe it, then take their situation and apply it using questions that prompt them instead of telling them that they're wrong and they need to change.  It's the art of persuasion.  I'm not very good at it, but I'm only a baby right now.  Haha.

Now, back to belief numero uno.

1.  That all men are created equal.

I believe this belief is fundamental to happiness in our relationships because when we recognize this, we also recognize that others have the same potential we have for greatness.  That simple recognition allows their impression in our minds to grow and flourish because we then recognize the truth.  The truth I'm talking about is that we all change.  I couldn't possibly share all of the blessings I've received while recognizing this as a true belief.  For one, the arguments I have are filled with love and they all turn funny somehow and end in both parties learning a lot.  Another example is my tolerance is no longer just tolerance.  It's become compassion and patience.  Don't get me wrong.  There's plenty I still have to improve on in this area of my life, but It's getting easier.  I feel brighter, if that makes any sense.  Haha.

Another way to look at it is that if we are created equal, than we are also intended to govern ourselves in the way we see fit.  That's kinda important, right?  Haha

Thanks for reading, you sparkly eyed human.  I appreciate that twinkle.

Dallin Hughes

You're in a vast room filled with obstacles and people.  Your eyes are closed.  This room has two doors.  One door, behind you, is locked from the outside.  You know that you entered through that door.  Only those who are entering the room are allowed through that door.  The door at the far side of the room is said to lead to a room with a treasure untold.  The catch?  You have to get through the room to get to it.  In your mind's eye, you believe you know where you're going and where the obstacles and people are.  However, you keep running into both people who are also trying to reach that door and obstacles.  The obstacles are hard, the people vary in levels of kindness.  The biggest problem you face is overcoming these obstacles.  You have no idea what you're doing because you can't see.  But what if you could see?  What if you could open your eyes?  You would understand how to conquer these obstacles, wouldn't you?  You would also know where to go and how to avoid obstacles you already may have run into, along with some you haven't run into.  You would be able to run through the room and reach the door with the treasure without much trouble.  All of these things would be made possible if you could see, if you had a knowledge of the world around you and how it operates.

So is the importance of understanding principles of self government and the natural law of the world we live in.  They give us vision and allow us to live the way we want to live.  I am very passionate about knowledge.  I am very passionate about truth.  I hope you are too.

Dallin Hughes

What on Earth?

Layers of atmosphere collected on my eyelashes and in my hair as I fell, pooffing through clouds at a speed that terrified even the bravest of adrenaline junkies.  Was I meant to fly?  I couldn't help but notice that gravity wasn't the only thing pulling me down.  I intended to fall in that direction and somehow that intention shot me through the air.  Then, as soon as I realized my intention, I realized my intention was all that mattered... and I wasn't falling.  The world was disappearing behind me.  I had to stop.  Even though it was painful to live in a world that misunderstood me, I understood the world, and it needed me.  It needs all the people who were brought to it to be whole, just like a family.  I turned and decided to stay, but not for too long, because just as much as the world needs its people to be whole, its people need a connection to something greater than it, and sometimes you have to let yourself go and fly to get that connection.