We are talking about living our lives on offense and how doing this can reduce anxiety in our lives.
I’m not talking about being offended. I am talking about choosing to not live defensively, but instead choosing to live our lives offensively.
When we are living our lives on defense we are constantly reacting to what is happening around us. We react to what others say and do and we may not always be happy with the way we are acting and this can create anxiety for us. When we don't like the way we show up in the world we have contention inside of us that eats away at us.
When we are living our lives on offense we are intentionally choosing how we will show up in the world. We are deciding how we will respond to what is happening around us.
“Holiness to the Lord says no to the profane, no to snarky cleverness at others’ expense, no to algorithms that monetize anger and polarization. Holiness to the Lord says yes to the sacred and reverent, yes to our becoming our freest, happiest, most authentic, best selves as we follow Him in faith.” Elder Gong (“Holiness to the Lord in Everyday Life,” Elder Gong, October 2024, General Conference).
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ftsoy/2024/11/12-gong?lang=eng
“Being sincerely Christlike is an even more important goal than being authentic.” Elder Quintin L. Cook
Book of Ether https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/ether?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/32?lang=eng
D&C 3:2 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/3?lang=eng
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/13?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/12?lang=eng
President Nelson “You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng
