The Family Under Stress

 Welcome back to my blog everyone!

This week, Brother Williams gave an incredible lesson that resonated with me and allowed me to reflect on the personal and family stressors I’ve encountered. It was a reminder of how universal trials are—no one is immune to challenges. However, what makes the difference is how we respond to them. Life often presents us with two distinct paths: we can choose to confront these challenges with resilience, using them as opportunities to grow and become stronger, or we can allow ourselves to spiral into despair, which can sometimes lead to depression and a feeling of being lost. This choice is not always easy, but it is pivotal.

One part of the lesson that stood out to me deeply this week was a quote from our assigned reading that I felt strongly prompted to share. It comes from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, and his words carry profound wisdom and hope: "Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We will all experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

This quote has stayed with me, as it captures a truth we all need to hear: difficult times are inevitable. We will all have our “Fridays,” those moments of sorrow and despair when hope feels distant. As Elder Wirthlin so beautifully reminds us, these Fridays are not the end of the story. “Sunday will come”—a day of healing, renewal, and joy. Whether in this life or the next, relief and redemption await us.

Brother Williams’ lesson helped me see my trials through this lens. Reflecting on the hardships I’ve faced, I’ve realized how much growth and strength have come from choosing faith and perseverance, even during my most challenging moments. This perspective has helped me find deeper meaning in adversity and reminded me that pain is not permanent. The hope of “Sunday” gives us the courage to keep moving forward, trusting that brighter days are ahead.

The ABCX model is a helpful framework for understanding and managing stressors. In this model, A represents the actual event or stressor—for example, losing a job could be the stressor. B stands for both the resources and responses you can utilize, such as seeking emotional support from friends and family or accessing unemployment benefits. C refers to cognition, meaning how you define or interpret the problem, like viewing the job loss as an opportunity for growth instead of failure. Lastly, X represents the total experience after dealing with the stressor, encompassing the outcome and any personal growth or lessons learned. This model was particularly insightful to me because it breaks down the stress management process into clear steps, highlighting how actively addressing and reflecting on stressors can lead to resilience and better outcomes. For instance, applying this model to everyday life made me realize how manageable challenges can become with the right approach.

During class, one of the questions discussed was how to determine how the person you are dating might react to certain stressors. To address this, we broke the question into the "three T's": Talk, Time, and Togetherness. By focusing on these three areas, you can better understand your partner's response to challenges. I found this concept fascinating because it highlights the importance of communication and shared experiences in navigating stress.

Personally, I realized that I tend to handle stress on my own most of the time. In contrast, others might prefer to seek support, finding comfort in knowing that someone is there to help and offer reassurance. This lesson opened my eyes to the diverse ways people cope with stress and the value of supporting one another through difficult times.