Are You Living Consciously?

One thing we really appreciate here on Mormon Marriages are people who push us to expand our thinking of the gospel and of marriage.

Josh and KC are definitely an insightful, paradigm breaking couple.

They have devoted their marriage to Conscious Living.

What's Conscious Living?

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conscious

adjective con·scious \ ˈkän(t)-shəs \
done or acting with critical awareness; a conscious effort to do better

living

adjective liv·ing \ ˈli-viŋ \
exhibiting the life or motion of nature

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It's being "critically aware" of the way you exhibit (or present) your life.

Think about your day today...

How many of the choices you made - the morning routine you went through, the way you said goodbye to those you love in the morning, the way you planned your day, the food you put in your body, the music you listened to, the time you spent on your phone, the attitude you had when you greeted your beloved at the end of the day - were made with critical awareness?

How many were made out of habit, necessity, or because they were easiest?

The Only Thing We Can Give God...

If you were raised like me, you were taught that God gave us everything. The only thing that is ours to give him in return is our agency. Our choices.

At the end of our life, we can present God with one gift... and it's whatever we made of ourselves during our time on earth.

Do you want to give God a gift that was made consciously, deliberately, and purposefully... or one that was made mostly as an afterthought?

In Moses 3:5, we learn that the world God created for us was carefully planned spiritually and mentally before it came into physical existence:

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth...

God showed us by example how to create something of meaning. He gave us the very best he had, and it all began with intentional, conscious planning.

I would argue that your marriage is the most important thing you can create in your life. Nothing else will shape your character, define your identity, develop your spiritual gifts, or provide you with more beautiful evidence that you have lived a good life than your marriage.

Some people make the conscious decision to wed in the temple, then live the rest of their marriage in a state of unconsciousness. Their lives often become chaotic, they become reactive, their relationship suffers and often deteriorates into passionless complacency, and even divorce.

But this isn't what God wants of our marriages. Marriage is supposed to bring you joy, happiness, and fulfillment. But that reward is only for those who consciously choose it.

Yes, my beloved brothers and sisters, life is good if we live in such a way to make it so. Believing, desiring, deciding, and choosing correctly are the simple actions that define an increase in happiness and an increase in the inner assurance that transcends this life.
-Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, True Happiness: A Conscious Decision

Take some time today to be deliberate with your choices. Create your day with intention. Nurture your relationships with purpose.

Get clear regarding what a happy marriage looks like to you, then work backwards and determine what changed need to be made, and which specific actions need to be taken to create the life you want.

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”
-Joseph Smith

Don't let your marriage wander. Pursue the path!

About Our Guests

Josh & KC Brothers

Follow Conscious Living

Josh and KC Brothers met on Tinder and have been messaging each other ever since! Early on in their relationship, they had discussions about their roles as stewards--not only of the Earth, but of each other. This led them to start making small changes in the way they live that would have a positive impact in their relationship with their home, their attachment to material goods, their food, their bodies, and each other. They discovered that no one was showing them how to start living a more conscious lifestyle--so they began documenting all of the baby steps it takes to get there in the hopes that others might be able to follow their trail as they became inspired to make similar changes. You can follow their journey to becoming better stewards on Instagram @consciousliving247.