Michael Lancaster

LE 1350

Personal Life Philosophy

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a personal life philosophy as an overall vision

or attitude toward life and the purpose of life. I believe that this is a very accurate, though
superficial, definition of a personal life philosophy. Based on each of our past experiences,
cultures, and regard for various values a personal life philosophy can vary greatly from person to
person. Attitude toward life could be anything from being an optimist versus being a pessimist
to how much someone values life and life experiences. Purpose of life can also vary greatly
based on the values that each individual holds most dear ranging from having a healthy body to
making a lot of money. By developing a personal life philosophy it can help me to hone in on
those things that are most important to me, how I want to life my life, and what will give me the
greatest joy. The three values that I hold most dear are family, spirituality and physical. Based on
those values I want to expand upon my personal life philosophy
Family
Family is my number one value and priority in life. I was taught from a young age by my
single mother and maternal grandparents that nothing is more important than family; in the end
family is all you have. In a talk titled Take Especial Care of Your Family given by Neal A.
Maxwell, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints he outlines the importance of families and how families can shape us as individuals. He
states In the healthy family, first and best, we can learn to listen, forgive, praise, and to rejoice

in the achievements of others. There also we can lean to tame our egos, work, repent, and love.
In families with spiritual perspective, yesterday need no hold tomorrow hostage. If we
sometimes act the fool, loving families know this is not our last act; the curtain is not rung
down.
This talk and quote resonate with me on a very deep level. My family is my everything in
life. There is nothing I wouldnt do to know they are healthy, happy, and safe. I have become the
man I am because of the family that was around me as a child as well as the family I have around
me know. Every day they shape me and help me to be better than I was yesterday. I know that no
matter what I do or what happens to me my family will always be there for me as a support
system. And I believe they know I will do the same for them. Having this knowledge makes me
happy in a time of turmoil and difficulty in the world. I know as long as I have my family to love
and rejoice with than we can make it through anything.
Spirituality
My next value goes hand in hand with family. My spirituality is one of the most
important things in my life. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
My religion places an emphasis on family as well as serving those around us in unselfish ways. I
converted to this religion as an adult and I can see the way it has helped me to progress into a
better man and a better person in the short amount of time that I have been a member. I make my
decisions and act in specific ways based on my spiritual and religious beliefs.
In an article titled Does Religion Make You Happier? published by Huffington Post
author Kristen Houghton delves into whether or not being spiritual and being part of a religion
can actually make you happier as a person. She states that belonging to a religion makes one feel

like you belong to a community and are therefore part of something bigger than yourself. She
also states that one gains a firm conviction that youre not alone in life which can make one
more optimistic leading to being happier. Those who participate in religion are generally happier
and have better self-image and self-worth. I believe that this article is absolutely accurate. I have
been happier, more productive, and in a better place in life over-all since joining my religion and
finding a more refined level of my spirituality.
Physical
Physical is the last value I want to examine. I have always been fairly active and athletic.
However, I stopped taking care of myself in my early twenties but continued to eat the way I did
when I was competing. I didnt realize what I was doing to myself until eighteen months ago
when I decided I wanted to lose weight and be healthier. Through a combination of exercise and
diet adjustment I have lost one hundred and sixty pounds. The benefits that I have seen, not only
physically but mentally and emotionally, are numerous.
In an informational article titled The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise on
helpguide.org it talks about some of the benefits of exercising. Some of the areas in ones life
that can be positively affected according to the article are helping with depression, anxiety and
stress. The article goes on to specifically talk about how exercise affects self-esteem and
resilience. It states Regular activity is an investment in your mind, body, and soul. When it
becomes habit, it can foster your sense of self-worth and make you feel strong and powerful.
When faced with mental or emotional challenges in life, exercise can help you cope in a healthy
way, instead of resorting to alcohol, drugs, or other negative behaviors that ultimately only make
your symptoms worse. This article basically describes my life. Before I lost weight I suffered

from severe anxiety as well as the inability to cope when life threw struggles at me. Now that I
have made my body a priority I no longer suffer from anxiety and have not had any anxiety in
over a year. I am also handling life stressors better than ever and have been able to help my wife
cope with some of the stresses that have been focused directly on her rather than the ones we can
deal with as a couple.
Making my health a priority will now always be at the forefront of my life. I cant believe
the person I used to be and the way I used to feel. I never want to feel that way again and I know
that I have the power to prevent that through maintaining the lifestyle that I have cultivated for
myself. By making myself a priority I am a better husband and will be a better father to my
daughter.
Philosophy Overall
My life philosophy consists of three primary focuses. I have been focused on these areas
for some time in my life but this class and this evaluation of myself has helped me to put them in
perspective. My family is my whole world and without them I cannot imagine the man I would
be today or what path I would be on. My spirituality and my religion are my guideposts. They
help me to know what kind of person I want to be for my family, for society and for myself.
Physical health has a bigger impact on my life than I would have imagined. I have made this a
priority and have gained lasting benefits of being healthies physically but also emotionally and
mentally. I never want to go back to the man I was before I started making myself a priority.
I know that if I continue to focus on these areas I will be able to accomplish my goals
and aspirations. I will become the man I want to be with time. More importantly, I know that if I

continue to focus on these areas I will be happy and content in life which makes me a better man
for my wife, daughter, and family.

Bibliography

Houghton, Kristen. "Does Religion Make You Happier?" The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 6 Aug. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-houghton/does-religion-make-youha_b_530155.html
Maxwell, Neal A. ""Take Especial Care of Your Family"" "Take Especial Care of Your Family" Neal A. Maxwell. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, n.d. Web. 25 Nov.
2016. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/04/take-especial-care-of-yourfamily?lang=eng
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016. http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/philosophy%20of%20life
Robinson, Lawrence, Jeanne Segal, and Melinda Smith. "The Mental Health Benefits of
Exercise." The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: The Exercise Prescription for
Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and More. Harvard Health Publications, Oct. 2016. Web. 25
Nov. 2016. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/exercise-fitness/emotional-benefits-ofexercise.htm