Perfection

So we read this quote in institute yesterday that I have been driving myself bonkers trying to find, or remember the exact words to, because it really gave me one of those classic perspective shifts. I'll try to give you the gist of it.

Basically it said how there was a young man in college who decided his number one goal was to perfect himself, so he recorded his every thought and feeling and just became totally focused on what he was doing and who he was. And whoever said the quote said that this was not the best way to be, but instead we should also be focusing on helping other people and making the the world a better place, which would have the side effect of making us better.

I guess I am really self-centered, partly because I really only have to take care of me, and on the surface it seems like trying to perfect yourself is the ideal situation to be working on. After all, we are trying to become as Christ was. And I don't think he meant (nor do I believe) that working on your personal attributes or goals or writing in a journal (or on a blog) are  things unworthy of our time. I guess it just hit me because, thinking about going on a mission, I realized that I don't know very much about the Gospel, and as Chris Martin says "I sin every single day," and basically I am just trying to get through everything that I need to get through as life becomes harder and crazier. But this quote helped me to realize that when I go on a mission, it's not even me that matters the most, but how I am trying to help others and do my part. Which doesn't mean that I can slack off and not try to be the best me that I can. But there is no way I can fail, or not become a better person if I'm honestly trying my best to serve others and the Lord. Which reminded me of the phrase "Forget yourself and go to work."

Now I understand that one.

And while I can't be or do everything that I would like, I can definitely do that.