My Healing Journey.
I grew up as the only artist in a family of brilliant, highly successful doctors and engineers. After experiencing domestic violence I internalized a painful sense of inadequacy and worthlessness. The shame and insecurity I carried showed up in every relationship, challenged every job, and led to unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Addiction defined me for years until after college I finally decided to seek help from the church. The nondenominational church I found had free group therapy which I attended consistently. It became a place of hope for me. I also made one friend who not only became my accountability partner, but a lifelong friend!
Soon after that I felt inspired to create animal art again for the first time in nearly a decade. I decided to prioritize drawing and painting animal art every day while listening to sermons, painting tutorials, and meditating on God’s word. I also made every effort to get outside daily, rain or shine, to feed my mind with beauty and wonder.
When I didn’t have the words to communicate how I felt I’d release it into my animal art journal and cast it in prayer. When I felt triggered and tempted to fall back into my old habits I’d recall scripture, pull out my sketchbook, or go for a walk to explore nature. On days when I felt completely discouraged and overwhelmed I’d reach out for strength and encouragement from my small community at church.
Seeking the Lord through this incredibly hard battle really did transform my thinking, which in turn changed my behavior. As I began seeing myself as a loved, valuable, chosen, equipped child of God with a calling in animal art, my mind began to heal.
Today my life feels so much brighter and I give God all the glory! Now my artwork embodies the vibrant transformation that happens within when we prioritize hope, truth, healing, and being creative.
And if you need encouragement, hope, and inspiration to get through your own battle, I want to invite you to join my weekly Newsletter down below.
