From YA Weekly
3 Emotional Skills to Master Before Your Mission
Learn and practice these emotional techniques to become more self-reliant, more faithful, and more emotionally steady throughout your service.
In South America, we love football! When there’s a crucial match involving our national teams, the entire country stops to watch. The most iconic, nerve-racking moments occur when the teams are tied and penalty kicks have to determine the winner.
In those moments, players feel intense emotions, but what leads to their success isn’t just their actions on the field—it’s their technique. Technique, developed through consistent practice, helps players trust their abilities and perform under pressure, no matter how nervous they feel in the moment.
In my work as a psychologist, I’ve had the privilege of evaluating candidates who are preparing for missionary work. Like football players, young adults can develop certain “emotional techniques” to help them overcome challenges they will undoubtedly face on their missions.
But, just like any skill, emotional techniques require time and practice. Don’t wait until just before the missionary training center to start developing them.
I call these techniques the “more, less” rules, and I believe they can help you better prepare emotionally for your mission:
Technique 1: More Healthy Habits, Less Resistance to Change
Mental illnesses are real and affect a lot of people, and it’s important to reach out to professionals for guidance and help. However, in working with missionaries, I’ve seen that sometimes emotional distress can be caused by circumstances or unhealthy habits—like excessive screen time, irregular sleep patterns, and social isolation.
When young sisters and elders arrive on their mission with these types of habits, they often struggle to adapt to missionary work, facing emotional challenges they didn’t expect.
But this can be resolved by establishing healthy habits before the mission, like exercising, eating well, sticking to a missionary sleep schedule, and taking on responsibilities at home or work to become more resilient. You can also create a “mental health first-aid kit” for stressful situations by learning relaxation exercises, practicing mindfulness, reciting favorite scriptures, or listening to uplifting spiritual music.
Technique 2: More Faith and Connection with God, Less Doubt
One of the questions I ask prospective missionaries is what concerns they have about serving a mission. A common one is the fear of being unprepared—not knowing enough doctrine or what to teach. This insecurity often leads to doubt, which would make anyone anxious.
The remedy for this insecurity is found in increasing faith through a strong connection with Jesus Christ and a deeper understanding of His Atonement. Obeying His commandments, studying the scriptures daily, and praying and fasting all build faith in Christ (see Alma 17:2–3).
If you have similar concerns, just remember that what you study in the scriptures will solidify in your mind as you share what you learn. You can share your insights with your parents, siblings, and friends.
Technique 3: More Love, Less Indifference
Being indifferent to the feelings and needs of others prevents us from feeling charity toward them, connecting with them on a deeper level, and being guided by the Spirit to know how to help them.
In this regard, the Apostle John gives us important advice: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20–21).
Cultivating charity, the pure love of Christ, for others boosts our emotional well-being and that of those around us, allowing us to build healthy relationships. If you’re not sure how to develop a deeper love for others, start with small acts of kindness and service. Smile and give compliments, help those in need, strive to listen instead of just waiting to speak, and offer understanding and empathy for those with different opinions.
Developing charity for others also means developing charity for yourself. If you’re facing emotional challenges that are difficult to bear, ask Heavenly Father for help, practice self-compassion, and talk openly with your family and Church leaders about how you feel. They can guide you to available resources, including qualified therapists, to help you feel better.
Just like the football players, you’ll face challenging moments on your mission. But in those moments, remember that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).
Learn and practice these emotional techniques, and you will find yourself becoming more self-reliant, more faithful, and more emotionally steady throughout your service.