Mental Health

The Names Heaven Calls Me

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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Backstory:
Lately, I’ve been working with my therapist on understanding my thoughts—especially the discouraging ones that seem to show up uninvited, often on my hardest health days. I’ve learned that while I can’t always control which thoughts enter my mind, I can choose what I do with them. We also talked about the labels I sometimes place on myself, like defining myself by my chronic illness. But deep down, I know that’s not who I truly am. I am a beloved daughter of a Heavenly King. This writing grew out of my effort to let that truth speak louder than the discouragement, and to gently redirect my thoughts back to who God says I am.

The Names Heaven Calls Me

Sometimes thoughts come into my mind
And honestly, they are not very kind.
They come in like a wind that I can’t control
But in my mind, they shouldn’t play a big role.

I sometimes define myself by my chronic illness
And I get discouraged when I am by myself in the stillness.
With fatigue and pain in my body each day,
And the weight on my shoulders is a heavy price to pay.

I am told that I can control each thought
That enters my mind so that I’m not so distraught.
So, I try to stay positive even when it’s hard
Because my illness makes my heart constantly feel scarred.

Just when I feel like I can’t make it anymore,
My Heavenly Father is there to get me up off the floor.
He knows my every struggle even when I feel alone
And like my worries and burdens are to everyone unknown.

I am the beloved daughter of a Heavenly King
And this should make my soul want to sing!
So I try to feel His warm embrace on my skin
And I know with Him, my daily battles I will win.

The Takeaway: Not every thought that enters your mind deserves to stay. You are not defined by your hardest days, your struggles, or the labels you’ve carried. When discouragement comes, you can choose—again and again—to see yourself the way God sees you: loved, known, and more than enough.

Rewriting the Story in My Head

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-April 9th, 2026

Yesterday in therapy, we talked about something that really made me stop and think—cognitive distortions. Those automatic thoughts that show up in our minds and quietly shape how we feel.

I realized how often I jump to the worst-case scenario, especially when my health feels uncertain. A new symptom appears, and my first thought is, “This is just going to make my life harder.” But the truth is… I don’t actually know that yet.

Maybe it will be hard. But maybe it won’t be as overwhelming as I imagine.

We talked about how this kind of thinking is often our mind’s way of trying to protect us—bracing for impact so we don’t feel as disappointed if things go wrong. But starting from a place of fear or discouragement doesn’t really protect us—it just weighs us down before we even know what’s ahead.

And on the hard days, especially lately, it’s not easy to shift that mindset. But I’m learning that I can gently question those thoughts and choose to look for something more hopeful, more balanced, and more kind.

What thoughts do you find yourself going to automatically when things feel uncertain?
And what might change if you paused and gave yourself permission to consider a more hopeful possibility?

Maybe we don’t have to believe the first thought that comes to mind. Maybe we can choose a better one.

The Question That Changed My Perspective

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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Community Conversations

I was speaking with my therapist today about my recent guest appearance on the Latter-day Lights podcast. I’ll be honest—I was feeling a bit discouraged. I had hoped to see a surge in new followers or subscribers, and when that didn’t happen immediately, I felt like I had missed the mark.

Then, she asked me something profound: “Would it be worth it to share your story if no one else ever listened to it?”

I took a breath, and the answer was a resounding yes.

When I watched the episode back, I felt a clear confirmation from Heavenly Father. He prompted me to do this back in January, and by recording it, I was simply being obedient. Stepping way out of my comfort zone didn’t just share a story; it strengthened my own faith.

As a writer and poet, I hope my words reach those who need them. But I’ve realized that the gift of expression was given to bless my life first. If I am the only one changed by my writing, it is still enough.

A Song Only Jesus Knows

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
After hearing a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one line from a beloved hymn lingered in my heart: “Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.” It made me reflect on the unseen battles we fight—the silent grief, the daily endurance, and the prayers we don’t have words for. This writing was born from those quiet places, where only the Savior truly understands.

A Song Only Jesus Knows

We all have feelings that we keep inside
Where all of our worries and stresses reside.
We don’t always share what is heavy or deep, 
And some of those secrets are lonely to keep.

Some days we feel like we can’t sing a song, 
Because everything around us seems to go wrong. 
There’s only One who truly knows every part, 
While we try so hard to hide what's in our heart.

Jesus knows how we feel at any given moment, 
A peace that He sends as a sacred atonement. 
He suffered in the Garden for our every pain, 
And He knows how to lead us out of the rain.


Jesus knows the deepest longings of our heart,
And He will always help us make a fresh new start.
He hears the prayers that we cry when we are weary
And He knows how we feel when our world seems dreary.

When the darkness in our heart is more than we can bear
Jesus will be our light and for us He will always be there.
So, on the days when no one understands you,
Just trust that Jesus will help you see from a more Heavenly View.

The Takeaway: There are parts of our hearts that words can’t reach. But the Savior hears them anyway. He knows your silent struggles, your unseen battles, and your deepest longings—and He stays with you through all of it.

The Miracle of Still Standing

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
This writing was inspired by a conversation with a dear friend who is a breast cancer survivor. She is a living miracle, but she still lives with the lasting effects of her treatments every day. In many ways, I can relate through my own health struggles. There are days when the weight of it all feels heavy, and hope feels distant. But she reminded me of something powerful—miracles don’t always mean the struggle is taken away. Sometimes, the miracle is that we are still here, still standing, still believing.

The Miracle of Still Standing

If you ever feel like the dark night will never go away,
And the weight of your burdens on your shoulders will always stay.
If you ever get so lost in your emotional state
And you get tired of your blessings having to wait.

If you feel the cold of winter seep into your soul,
Because your burdens are taking an emotional toll.
If you feel tired of situations in your life staying the same
And you feel like you are off your game.

If you feel like you are constantly on your own
And like your worries and cares are not known.
Just remember that you are Beloved of your Father
Because your cries to Him are never a bother.

Even on days when your struggles seem more visible,
Just remember that every day you keep going is a miracle.
The fact that you get out of bed every morning is proof that you are strong,
Even when you feel like everything in your life is going wrong.

Because the dark night always turns into day,
And even in the dead of winter, spring will always come your way.
Just trust that your Heavenly Father has you in His Loving embrace,
And He will always be by your side to help you run your race.

The Takeaway: We all have days that feel dark and heavy, like a long night or a never-ending winter. But just as morning always comes and spring always follows, there is a promise that light and life will return. The miracle is not always in being healed, but in being held. It’s in God’s presence in our lives—the strength to rise each day, the faith to keep going, and the quiet assurance that we are never alone and always deeply loved.

When the Yoke Becomes Light

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-March 12th, 2026

Some days the burdens we carry feel heavier than we think we can bear. Illness, worry, grief, uncertainty—at times it can feel like too much for one heart or body to hold.

I recently heard a line from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“For those who submit, the yoke is easy and the burden is light.”

At first that feels almost confusing. Life doesn’t suddenly become easy when we choose to follow Christ. The burdens don’t magically disappear.

But something in us changes.

When we submit our hearts to Him—when we trust that He sees us, heals us, and walks beside us—He strengthens us to carry what once felt unbearable. The weight may still be there, but we are no longer carrying it alone.

Some of the hardest days of my life, especially when my health feels like a heavy load, are the days when this truth matters most. My strength alone isn’t enough. But His grace is.

And somehow, with Him beside me, I take another step.

What burdens feel heavy on your shoulders today?
What might change if you placed them, even for a moment, into the hands of the Savior who walks with you?