Doubt, Self Defeat, Low Self , Esteem...

There is a big misconception out there that women are the only ones who are faced with doubt, low self esteem, image issues, and a negative view of self. Men face it too and here is my view and take on it since I have faced these symptoms most of my life. Now, I don't want to favor men over women in this--I just want to talk about the feelings in general, how we can overcome them and learn to build others up as well.
We are bombarded with images of rail thin models with porcelain skin and are told that is beauty. We are shown images of 6'2" men with blond hair, blue eyes, and muscles the size of Jupiter and are told that is what a man is supposed to be. We are told that to be of worth, we have to be honor roll students, the cut-throat business person, the most popular kid at school, the all star athlete, have the newest car and best clothes.... the list can go on for eons and sadly, we begin to believe them.  We forget the wonderful qualities God gave us and we let those false images prevent us from achieving the dreams we have for ourselves.
I have personally experienced this in my life, and I let it ruin me. I was miserable. Who wants to wake up every morning and say, "WOW! I am so sad, I am not handsome, I have no value, I probably will never find a beautiful girl to marry, I probably will fail my math test today... I'm so excited!"
No one, right? How does that make you feel to think that way? Terrible, right?  You are NOT alone, we are here to fight together!
I had thought I was the only one who felt this way and that all the other guys I was comparing myself with didn't ever feel this way! Then God blessed me with a really amazing learning opportunity. I was in my new student ward, amazed at how it was full of really amazing people, including those stereotypes I compared myself with. I found myself wondering, that dude is everything I wished I was, why isn't he married?
I sat there with a girl I had been dating, just pondering. Then the last hour of church rolled around for Priesthood and half way through the lesson one brave and sincere man just shared his doubts and concerns. He said, "Hey, can you help me, guys? Right now I just feel so empty, and I'm not feeling it." Then all of the men just poured their hearts out to this man, saying how they understand, how they all are struggling too, how they worry they won't find someone to marry, their careers won't take off, etc.
 It hit me right there. No one is immune to those negative influences of the devil. It affects us all, rich or poor, physically fit or less so, smart or not. I also learned from that moment, WE do not have to feel that way, we do not have to feel like we are alone in feeling this way. Heavenly Father knew we would experience these feelings so He gave us each other. Satan is the one who uses fear and thoughts of being the only one to keep us from reaching out to one another.
So I suggest we break that chain of fear, doubt, and discouragement. Let's stand up and share with one another the light we have and realize WE are children of light, children of God. He is there guiding us to one another to shed those chains so we can live in peace and joy.  Who said we can't live our dreams, who said we aren't handsome or beautiful?  Because honestly WE ARE. God sees us as all the most wonderful things in all eternity, so let's live up to HIS expectations, stop comparing ourselves, and learn to love ourselves.

Gods children : All are princes and princesses

The other day I was watching a wonderful movie with my little sister called A Little Princess. I watched this movie when I was little and it really has so much meaning to it. The most important lesson that is taught to these girls in the movie is that all women are princesses. Wow! Can you believe it? A Hollywood movie telling these wonderful women that they are royal instead of the next object of gratification, or immoral idolization!

Picture this with me: a world where our young men and women viewed themselves as royalty. How would they dress? How would they act?  I picture a world full of modest men and women who care for one another, who hold themselves as something more than what the world is telling them to be. I see young women who, for their prom, instead of finding the most "acceptably immodest" dresses, found the most tasteful yet beautiful ones that made their spirits shine brighter than the sun. And young men who greeted their dates and treated them as if they were the most prized possession of the world, instead of seeing them as an object to gratify a passion.

We are children of a king. Yes, we are all children of a god who loves us, who sent us here to be royalty on earth, to help show His children who have forgotten this nobility the way back to the castle of our Father in Heaven. We are, in fact, royal sons and daughters of a noble heritage. And our biggest adversary is someone who forgot his royal lineage as well: Satan. He is polluting our world, teaching us that we have no value, that sex is the only thing that truly matters, that our looks are all that matter, and that ultimately after these things, WE don't matter.... LIES!

Here is a quote from this lovely movie. I see the character of Miss Minchin as the one who has forgotten and wants us to as well. Sarah--sweet, valiant Sarah--is that daughter of our Heavenly King reminding us all of our heritage:

Miss Minchin: Don't tell me you still fancy yourself a princess? Child, look around you! Or better yet, look in the mirror. 
Sara Crewe: I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he? 

Wow! This applies to us all. We all are princes and princesses, no matter if our circumstances do not indicate a royal heritage. Rich or poor, whatever! And our Father did tell us that we are just that!

Sentinels

I Christopher Allen Cook, dedicate my life to be a sentinel of truth and light, and vow to help hold the light to all, by sharing my light, and showing others where they can find it as well. 

In my high school days I spent a lot of time being involved in the FFA organization, part of that time was spent as an officer at the State Organization level; my position on the team was the Sentinel. For those familiar with the FFA you know that the sentinel is " Stationed by the door" the sentinel is responsible for helping maintain order and caring for all who enter in through the door. In the past they were called the watchdog, this thrilled me as I learned more about what sentinels are. 

Sentinels are the guardians, protectors and barriers, between right and wrong, good and bad, Light.... and dark. 

I have had a dream, a aspiration, to help the young people of the world, to have the courage to stand against the darkness... this darkness is so very prevalent today, and its scary if we stand alone, all alone, but with the light we don't have to stand alone.

I have thought long and hard about how I want this to work, whether or not I should devout a lot of time speaking about Jesus Christ, but I have to be true to my beliefs and truth. So to be true to what really shatters the darkness, we need and must speak of Christ, because he is the light and life of the world. The path, and we as his followers must pick up our shields and swords and become the sentinels, the protectors and defenders of his gospel and his light.

It is my hope to unite, with all believers in the light, to defend it and to speak out against the evils that are abundant in our world, so we can stand strong and not see our brothers and sisters perish in the dark.

I ask you if you feel the same to join me and stand for the light.