By Stephanie Abney
Meg Johnson, author and motivational speaker, shares how to become a “pro” at letting one’s light shine. Johnson, a Utah resident and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, lives what she preaches.
Her happy attitude can be felt throughout her new audio CD, “Let Your Light Shine” (Covenant Communications, $11.99). In a talk that seems geared to the Young Women of the LDS Church — but could easily be received well by all members — Johnson shares some of her insights and life experiences in letting her light shine.
Drawing on a talk once given by Sister Elaine S. Dalton, former Young Women general president, Johnson suggests four tips and shares family and personal experiences for each.
Pray daily. When her then-17-year-old brother was in boot camp, he was teased by others when he said his nightly prayers. He didn’t let that stop him from praying and eventually earned their respect.
Read in the Book of Mormon. As a teenager Johnson couldn’t help but notice one of the young women in her ward seemed to have a special glow. She felt impressed by the Spirit that the reason for this girl’s glow was because she read the Book of Mormon daily.
Obey the standards in “For the Strength of Youth.” Johnson suggested this is for both teens and adults. Her mother was able to quit a five-pack-a-day smoking habit to be baptized when one of the elders who was teaching her was a diabetic and yet fasted for her at great expense to his own health. When she had to catch him from being so weak and saw how bloodshot his eyes were, she was overcome with his love of the gospel and of her. She never smoked again.
Smile. Johnson says a smile is the only expression you can have on your face that is contagious. It draws people to you so you can share your light. She says, “Everyone wants to know what the smiler knows.” She likens the importance of our smiles to the lower lights of a lighthouse. Without the lower lights, ships would not be able to navigate safely to shore.
Johnson created an acronym with the first letters of each tip and came up with “Pros.” She says we can all learn to become “Shine Pros.”
Due to an accident in her early 20s, Johnson is a quadriplegic. She is a motivational speaker, who blogs at MegJohnsonSpeaks.com and posts “Meg’s Motivational Movie Minute” videos at her website.
This delightful presentation is apt to put a smile on anyone’s face.
Stephanie Abney, eternal optimist, retired school teacher and freelance writer, lives in Mesa, Ariz., with her husband, Jim. They have five children and 18 grandchildren. Email is sabneyfeedback@cox.net and she blogs at stephaniesaysso.blogspot.com.
Read the original story at https://www.deseret.com/2013/10/4/20526785/motivational-speaker-encourages-smiling-in-let-your-light-shine-cd#let-your-light-shine-is-meg-johnsons-new-talk-on-cd