Striving for Perfection vs Striving for Optimal Mental Health

I saw a meme...

with a quote that said it was by Elder Uchtdorf and it said something to the effect that righteous action is better than the most eloquent prayer.  But it used the imagery of a wagon being stuck in mud, and the person who gets out and pushes is more likely to have the prayer answered than the person who does not get out and push but merely offers an eloquent prayer. 

I pray daily for the strength to overcome my fears of doing and acting upon good thoughts and promptings.  

I have felt the lessons. Here are the many lessons that have surfaced:

#1 - Exercising  Faith and confidence is a muscle that needs work in order for it to become strong. It's not a state of being that occurs suddenly in our lives without the effort.

#2 - Context - if an admonition such as the one described in the meme causes guilt or anxiety, suicidal thoughts or the thought "I'll never be good enough so why try" then it might not be the right message for the moment. It may be true and good BUT NOT the right message to focus on in that place and time. Maybe it can be revisited at a future time with self-love and a connection to God's love. I think when we are trying to repent or change we need to have those 2 things at the forefront of our minds. AND, in the meantime, perhaps a gentler message is required at that moment. 

So, that is what I need to do - EXERCISE - my body could use this too. 

I need to exercise my confidence, faith, and body until it is strong enough to perform the great tasks that are being required of me. THEN, I will be strong enough to follow promptings, put on heavier weights.