Choices Define Us

 Have you ever felt fear?

Probably, in most cases...we all have!

It's a very human emotion and quite normal to feel.

Most everyone has felt fear of some sort.

OK, I LOVE to be different, but also thrive on being accepted by those who are around me...

a people pleaser.

I love being able to set new goals and accomplish them against all odds, and one of the most enjoyable things is being able to see someone close to me pleased with my efforts.

Thinking up a goal, or awesome ideas is really easy for me...but a lot of the time the hardest part is getting started. Most of the time this happens with my art; drawings and paintings.

I have moticed that sometimes my ideas scare me so much that I end up never starting them at all; ending up in never starting anything new.

You see, the fear of messing up on a painting, or drawing trumps the journey to learn and create.

 Somehow, everytime an idea pops into my head, also the opposite creeps directly behind. This opposite feeling tends to darken the memories of the magnificent journeies that I had embarked on everytime I begin a new painting.

It may seem silly, but it is also SO real.

Discouragement & Fear are R E A L !

 The fear of never being good enough, never having anything just right; that fear will NEVER allow you to ever step outside of your comfort zone.

&

The  m o s t  growth happens outside of your comfort zone!

It's hard.

It's scary, but it allows each of us to be the magnificent children of God that we were sent here to become!

It's SO very worth it!!!

• • •

I noticed this process happening with a new idea of a painting.

It had been almost a year since painting a human in oil, and I did not have the confidence in being able to make a decent paint... but I needed something to occupy my time!

Desperation fuels  a c t i o n !

( P.S. to see the progress in this painting visit: BriarRose Art Blog: Fear of Progression )

It sure is not perfect, but throughout this journey I have learned a lot! 

I learned that I should never fear my abilities, God knows how to help you learn the lessons that will help you! 

This remindes me of a quote by Albus Dumbledore, 

"It is our CHOICES that show who we truly are far more than our ABILITIES."

By CHOOSING to conquer your fears you are allowing yourself to  l e a r n  , to  g r o w  , and 

to  u n d e r s t a n d  how your Heavenly Father truly speaks to 

YOU!!!

• • •

What fears are you willing to face this year?

Cranberries, Popcorn, & YOU are a child of God

The First Snowfall of the Season...

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

My last Photo challenge last month did not last more than a day. 

and you know, my first response to that would be to tell myself that I am terrible...and can't finish anything I start, even a small thing like that!

That is exactly what a lot of us would do. 

We would turn to tear our own selves apart.

I ask myself so often, why?

Why do we treat ourselves worse than any other human?

Why does our society tear ourselves apart when we aren't everything we hope to be?

Tearing yourself down is taking away any learning experience that could have been, and taking away any progress we have made. It's like building a building. Starting out and along the way laying down the wrong color of brick, a miscalculation or due to not paying enough attention. 

Does that builder get so discouraged that he tears down the whole structure? 

NO!

You take what you can from that situation and 

l e a r n

Falling forward...

Failing forward is one of the hardest things to understand. 

But just like anyone else you must forgive everyone (including you) of the small miscalculations we end up making all the time!

I know... that was kind of a random rant, but you know, reminders to LOVE are AWESOME!

"Love thy neighbor as thyself." - Mathew 22:39

To love is one of THE most important things, loving those people around us is SUPER important; everyone is a child of God. Sometimes though, we forget that we are as well a chid of God!!!!

He took the time to make you...the marvelous you that you are...He is working in your life, and loving you so infinately so!!! Whether you see His hand in your life right now or not I testify that He is aware, and He does love you with all of His heart!

You are a Daughter/Son of God!

Allow what was, 

Embrace what is, 

and Shape what is to come!

Enjoy the little snowy moments. 

Remind yourself  d a i l y  that you are a precious child of God, our Father in Heaven!!!

&

Light the World!!!!