Taking Control

Alma 38:12

"Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness."

So many little nuggets in this scripture - let's discuss.

"Use boldness, but not overbearance"
How true is that? It's okay to be strong minded and strong willed, but not at the cost of others - don't be overbearing, don't put others down and be condescending when stating your thoughts and convictions.

"bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love"
This makes me think of Elder Holland's talk this last April conference, Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul. He gives quite some time to discussing love vs lust, the differences of how it feels and how it looks and how it affects us. He talks about how love and lust can't co-exist, how one is selfless while the other selfish.
When I was a teenager, I had this scripture in my bedroom, to remind me that love is a reward. Love is what you get when you work and put forth effort. It may not always come easy, but pure love is always worth it.

This can be applied to romantic love, as well as love for a friend or family member, love for a job or career, love for a hobby and even love for service.

Bridleing your passions means to not let your desires run away with you. Don't place wants before needs, play before work. Take control and put your life in order. In doing so, you can pick out the activities that you participate in that are timewasters, and find the activities that are fulfilling and rewarding. Don't be 'rid' of your passion, if you truely love it and it truly fulfills you. Just be tempered, take control of it instead of it controling you. Your life will be clean and there will be more room for love.

"see that ye refrain from idleness"
Well, that's just good advise and makes good sense. What good ever came from lazing around?

What are your thoughts?