if you're comfortable, you're not in the right spot.

salt lake city, utah airport

happy march, my friends!! i did indeed take this picture in december as i was flying home, and it's kinda crazy that was over three months ago :o but it's too good not to use for this post so :)

i've been thinking about service, comfort zones, and everything social a lot since i've been at college & i hope this post can change how you interact with the people around you!! it's a little collection of thoughts i've collected:)

as one of my friends said, if you're comfortable, you're not in the right spot.

what does this really mean? reaching out to others, trying new things, or doing something intimidating is not comfortable. it takes bravery, guts, and motivation to get outside of your comfort zone, your pride, and your routine. maturing is realizing it's worth it: for yourself, your growth, and more importantly, for the benefit of others.

as steven shumway said in his devotional (that was so good you should read it!!!), approachability is a Christlike attribute. it's something we should all cultivate. if you are so distant from the people around you with your airpods in, eyes down, or phone up, you are going to miss opportunities to connect with others. you invite people to approach you by being present! be where your feet are:)

in this podcast episode from this is kingdom called "see people," (it's 15 minutes and so worth the listen) they talk about how there are so many people around us who are suffering because no one sees them. it only takes one person to help them feel noticed and loved, and we can be that person!!

in her talk, eyes to see, michelle craig shared a quote from columnist david brooks, who said that many of our greatest problems in society come from people not feeling seen and known. this is something we all need to get better at: seeing others deeply. as craig herself said, "Jesus Christ sees people deeply. He sees individuals, their needs, and who they can become. where others saw fishermen, sinners, or publicans, Jesus saw disciples; where others saw a man possessed by devils, Jesus looked past the outward distress, acknowledged the man, and healed him. even in our busy lives, we can follow the example of Jesus and see individuals—their needs, their faith, their struggle, and who they can become."

she later shared a personal experience: "as i pray for the Lord to open my eyes to see things i might not normally see, i often ask myself two questions and pay attention to the impressions that come: 'what am i doing that i should stop doing?' and 'what am i not doing that i should start doing?' months ago, during the sacrament, i asked myself these questions and was surprised by the impression that came. 'stop looking at your phone when you are waiting in lines.' looking at my phone in lines had become almost automatic; i found it a good time to multitask, catch up on email, look at headlines, or scroll through a social media feed.

the next morning, i found myself waiting in a long line at the store. i pulled out my phone and then remembered the impression i had received. i put my phone away and looked around. i saw an elderly gentleman in line ahead of me. his cart was empty except for a few cans of cat food. i felt a little awkward but said something really clever like, 'i can see you have a cat.' he said that a storm was coming, and he did not want to be caught without cat food. we visited briefly, and then he turned to me and said, 'you know, i haven’t told anyone this, but today is my birthday.' my heart melted. i wished him a happy birthday and offered a silent prayer of thanks that i had not been on my phone and missed an opportunity to truly see and connect with another person who needed it. with all of my heart i do not want to be like the priest or the levite on the road to jericho—one who looks and passes by. but too often i think i am." // i loved this talk, and i have also seen the miracles that come when we chose to step outside of our little world and acknowledge and connect with the people around us.

"bring back inconveniencing yourself for the people you love" (@elsa.grace.evelyn) // in a world of convenience, it is a rebellious act to purposely give time, money, and energy to those around you in service! for we gain our lives when we lose them in the service of others!! (matthew 16:24-26... verse 26: "what good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?")

luke 6:32-36 “if you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? for even sinners love those who love them. and if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? for even sinners do the same. and if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. but love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." // when we often stress about being perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect (matthew 5:48), it's important to remember that the maturity of God is in His mercy, something we can work to develop every day. are we merciful to those close to us? similar to us? or to everyone?

an excerpt from a byu article: el prójimo by professor carolina núñez:

"many years ago i was practicing law in salt lake city. one morning i was running very late. i drove to the light-rail station and parked just as a train arrived. without time to select the car with the most open seating, i rushed onto the closest car. to my delight, i found the car empty. but as soon as i sat down, i understood why. an elderly man in worn and heavily soiled clothes sat slumped on the floor at the opposite end of the car. his fingernails were long and jagged, his hair was dirty, and it was clear from the smell in the car that he had not bathed in some time. my heart ached for him. some part of me wanted to help him, but i didn't know how. i worried about embarrassing him or myself. i worried about being late for work and getting my clothes dirty. i wavered too long. a couple of stations down the track, a man, dressed as if he too had a job downtown, entered the car. seeing the old man, he reached down, pulled the man up, wrapped his arms around him, and gently helped him off the train. i don't know what happened after that. but the rescuer did not get back on the train. he likely didn't make it to work that morning. he probably got his clothes dirty. he got physically close and gave of himself. i wish i had had the courage to do that. ... the samaritan's love was not abstract, arm's-length compassion. it was concrete and close." // Jesus taught us to love everyone, especially when it is uncomfortable.

"i just think the world is a really exciting place when you’re brave." -adam // i love this thought: life is exciting when you are brave: you can try new things but also you can love those around you!! you can be stronger than your fear!!

"the best antidote i know for worry is work. the best medicine for despair is service. the best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired." -gordon b. hinckley // i've found this to be true. college is super fun because i have time to do whatever i want, but it can feel hollow if i let my day-to-day get too self-centered. in a world that preaches that more vacation, stuff, or luxury will make you happier, remember that SERVICE is what will fulfill you. serving others is serving God!! (mosiah 2:17) only when you give will you truly receive!

as dallin h. oaks taught in his recent byu devotional, "look to the needs of others and humility follows. ... again and again, Jesus taught and demonstrated the power of service to others."

"every saint has a past, and every sinner a future." -mark ellison (my new testament professor) // remember that everyone has a past, a present, and a future. we cannot see all that one person is, nor can we see all that they can become.

my hope is that in a world of greed, distraction, and consumption, we can choose to act differently. we can choose to be present, aware, and truly see the people around us. we can choose to see people as children of God, as special human souls. in a polarized and disconnected era, it takes a conscious effort to fight for a more connected, kind, and joyful world! i believe that choosing to serve others instead of staying comfortable is one of the most powerful ways we can follow Jesus, create a better future, and experience true contentment.

the next time you see someone in need i challenge you to forget yourself and serve them!! you will never regret it.

xoxo, kate

p.s. a new episode is out on my podcast! it's so good! listen here