Over the last few months, I’ve been learning a lot about my personality type and my strengths and, man, has it made a huge difference in how I perceive life. I’ve even started to view Bible journaling differently! Let me break it down for you.
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I attended a class at our church called “Discover – Who God Designed You to Be,” and we both learned more about our spiritual gifts, abilities, and talents. The biggest light bulb moment for me was the section on abilities.
The facilitators separated the general category of “abilities” into three categories: things, people, and ideas. I learned that I have more strengths with abilities geared toward ideas rather than things or people. For example, I love arranging, editing, and organizing.
What do all those things have in common? My strengths come into play after the fact. I’m not the best at writing the words, but I can edit them to sound their best, for example. How does that relate to Bible journaling?
I used to agonize over the fact that my handlettering was subpar. I used to stare at the beautiful drawings and wish that I could create like that too. But now I’ve now learned that creating in that format isn’t where I thrive. And that’s okay.
Now that I’ve understood that, I’ve come to terms that stickers and washi and stamps and splashes of color here and there are my jam. I can arrange beautifully-designed stickers like nobody’s business! Cute washi is my love language! Slapping on some acrylics with an old gift card makes my heart soar! And that’s okay.
I was focusing on what I’m not good at instead of what I am good at. My assignment for you is this: find what you’re good at and run with it. Celebrate that you’re different from everyone else instead of being disappointed.
Illustrated Faith Big & Bold stickers in Black Eyed Pea by Bella Blvd | Illustrated Faith Genesis Collection Mini Mrs. Blueberry stickers by Bella Blvd | Illustrated Faith Genesis Collection “Love It” stickers by Bella Blvd | Illustrated Faith Precision Pens by Bella Blvd | Liquitex Acrylic Paint in Bright Aqua Green
Leah, this color combination is positively sublime! I love the blush, mint, & navy. <3
Best color combo ever. My wedding colors were mint and blush, and I SO WISH that I would have thrown in some navy accents. It’s gorgeous!
Thank you, Leah! I’ve been too paralyzed even to start Bible journaling in my journaling Bible because I’m no artist. I need to focus on the words and not the art.
I was scared for so long, but I’m so glad that I just dove in. It’s been so fruitful for me! I hope that you get that urge to just start like I did, Donna! :)
I love this message. We creatives need to hear it over and over sometimes! And washi tape….yep, definitely in my vocabulary!
Over and over is right… I feel like I’m telling it to myself every single day! But that’s okay. Learning takes time!
You basically just described myself. I pour over the IllustratedFaith hashtags and screenshot countless beautiful entries, all the time beating myself up over the fact that I could never do anything like that.
I’m better at design on PhotoShop than on real paper and that’s ok…Because stickers, washi tape and embellishments….I CAN do that!
YES! I used to do the same thing! I still like looking at everyone else’s artwork, but remembering that I’m not going to be able to do EVERYTHING makes all the difference. OWN IT!
I just now appreciated seeing the r fall off the word discover. Why? Because I just did that to the word protect
s
It looked funny until I added some embellishments. :)
I also wanted to say that the third page I worked on, Psalm 139 I did not like at all when I first started. It was ugly to me. But by the time I finished it with stickers and such it became the most beautiful journal page. I also cried as I saw all the wonderful ways that God loves me in those verses. To anyone stuck…maybe you are a perfectionist too like me…go for it! Yippee! It is okay to be who God created me to be. Thanks Heather.
oops! I should have said thanks to Leah! Aren’t you glad God knows your name?
HAHA! Cracking me up about that name comment, Rebekah. I’m the WORST with names. Honestly.
I especially like that that ended up happening to the R in discover… it’s so fitting for the message I was looking to portray. We’re not perfect! I’m not perfect! I love learning how to work with talents that I have. It makes it so much more fun!
Amen! I’m the same way! Thank you for sharing!!!
Thank you for sharing this Leah! so lovely xo
janel