Something that's been on my mind a lot lately is the idea of perfection--and how discouraging this can be. But it doesn't have to be! I've had so many Divine Signatures where I've been reminded that we don't have to be perfect now, all that matters is that we are progressing. And this takes faith.
Maybe you remember in General Conference this last October, President Uchtdorf urges in his talk Come, Join With Us to "please, first doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."
Now- for my little theory:
Doubt your doubts about yourself.
Have more faith in yourself.
We are often so hard on ourselves. I've noticed that when I am struggling and doubting myself, this is most often when my Heavenly Father sends me a Divine Signature, even just a small instance to show of His love for me and for the faith He has in me. But guess what? He has faith in ALL of us. He believes in ALL of us. That's why we are here; He knows our potential as His children.
A little more from President Uchtdorf (Four Titles):
"We have all seen a toddler learn to walk. He takes a small step and totters. He falls. Do we scold such an attempt? Of course not. What father would punish a toddler for stumbling? We encourage, we applaud, and we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more like his parents.
God understands that we get there not in an instant but by taking one step at a time.
I do not believe in a God who would set up rule and commandments only to wait for us to fail so He could punish us.
