Life Prep

Emotional Skills

Emotions are a massive part of life. And they sometimes arise without warning.

Humor. Sorrow. Anger. Excitement! When we try to cultivate healthy emotional skills, we sometimes think we have to start or stop feeling certain emotions. That’s not always easy, and sometimes not really possible. Here are some things that can make a big difference.

Try It Out!

1. basketball

   Photographs by Getty Images

   There will be times in life when you won’t always have access to your favorite hobbies and emotional outlets. Practice giving up one such hobby or outlet for a week and see how it goes.

2. young woman stretching before a run

   Healthy food and regular exercise help stabilize your emotions. Find an activity you enjoy that raises your heart rate, then commit to doing that three times or more each week.

3. writing

   Practice writing a gratitude journal. Find three or more things every day that you’re grateful for and write them down.

4. young woman sleeping

   Getting enough sleep helps steady emotions and maintain good health. Practice going to bed at 10:30 p.m. and getting up at 6:30 a.m. every day for a week, including the weekend. If missionaries can do it, so can you!

5. notes on bulletin board

   Write down something that you look forward to doing in the next week and in the next few months. Put that paper where you can see it regularly, and update it often so there’s always a little hope ahead.

Jeffrey R. Holland

“For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead.”

—Jeffrey R. Holland, Oct. 1999 general conference.